By : Aaron West
Source : http://www.scsun-news.com
Category : Small Business Grant
SILVER CITY ---- A regional grant that would help small businesses in Grant, Luna, Hidalgo and Catron counties, among other agenda items, was discussed at the Grant County Board of Commissioner s March Work Session on Tuesday.
Arlene Schadel and Veronika Molina, on behalf of the Stronger Economies Together Steering Committee ---- SWNM Economic Development Partnership, presented a proposal for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Enterprise Grant and asked for a letter of commitment from the commission that would declare Grant County's support for the grant. According to Molina, the USDA would match whatever money counties put into the fund, but because the statewide grant is competitive, letters of commitment from the four counties involved increase the chance that the Partnership would be awarded the grant.
District 2 Commissioner Brett Kasten said that before commissioners could approve a letter of commitment, they would need to see a list of businesses that the Steering Committee had identified as potential grant-recipients. Molina said the Partnership would put that together before April 2, which is the deadline for the grant application. Additionally, Kasten wanted to know if other counties had committed, but Molina said that Grant County was the first stop, even though she said the Partnerships had been in talks with Luna County about a commitment of $10,000.
During the presentation, Molina said the grant would provide startup assistance as well
as money for upgrades and enhancements ---- which include anything from land development and acquisition to distance learning for job training and advancement to project planning ---- for businesses in the region. In order for a business to qualify for the grant it would have to have less than 50 employees, earn less than a million dollars in gross revenue per year and be located in a rural area.
The money would come from a regional revolving loan account, made up of the funds put in by the four counties as well as the money matched by the USDA, that would allow owners of small businesses to borrow money, typically about $7,000 to $10,000, at a low interest rate ---- between 3 1/2 to 4 percent, she said. The money would be administered by a regional board made up of officials from each county and the borrowers, not the counties, would be responsible for paying the loan back to the account, plus interest, which would then make the account stronger, according to Molina. County reports during the work session included: Updates on the new detention center, which Grant County Detention Center Administrator Mike Jimenez said would probably be ready by May 1, after phone lines and Internet is installed and the Certificate of Occupancy is granted and a public works update by Public Works Director Justin Reese, in which he mentioned the need for repairs at the airport.
Along with the grant presentation and county reports, commissioners discussed the new business on the agenda for the regular meeting that will take place 9 a.m. Thursday.
This includes the appointment and re-appointment of Becky O' Connor, Keith LeMay, Jackie Blurton, John Rohovec and Joseph Wade Jr. to the Grant County Lodger's Tax Committee, and the appointment of two new members, John Vanvig and John Goetten, to the Grant County/Silver City Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Advisory Board. Grant County Planner Anthony Gutierrez's appointment to serve on the Arizona Water Settlements Board was also discussed, as was the Law Enforcement Protection Fund for fiscal year 2012 to 2013 ---- budgeted at $43,400, the approval of the nine local Volunteer Fire Departments annual list of retirees and also revisions to the Grant County Use of Fairground Facilities Policy, including the cost of using the exhibit building which, upon recommendations of Pete Walden, were raised due to the building's new air conditioning.
The Grant County Board of Commissioners regular meeting will take place 9 a.m. Thursday at the Grant County Administration Building.
Aaron West can be reached at (575) 538-5893 ext. 5803
Source : http://www.scsun-news.com/ci_20216782?source=most_viewed
