County discusses grant options for economic development
By
Rory Ryan-hcpress@cinci.rr.com
County discusses grant options
for economic development
Don Branson outlines grant
process, requirements
By RORY RYAN
The Highland County Press
The Highland County Board of Commissioners discussed economic development opportunities with Don Branson, executive director of the
Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation, at Wednesday’s board meeting.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners discussed economic development opportunities with Don Branson, executive director of the Southern Ohio Agricultural and Community Development Foundation, at Wednesday’s board meeting.
With commissioners Shane Wilkin, Gary Heaton and Tom Horst present, Wilkin explained that since the county closed its economic development office, there are “a couple of companies looking for resources.”
“We have one business that needs $5,000 for equipment,” Horst said. “He would add one part-time position.”
Branson gave commissioners a copy of the Economic Development Grant Application Handbook and also explained that Highland County has $120,000
available in the foundation’s $1 million economic development budget.
The foundation’s mission is to help create and enhance economic opportunities for Ohio’s tobacco farm families and rural communities.
Branson said economic development funds have to be tied to job creation or retention and they have to be full-time positions.
“Our grants are based on job creation and retention,” he said. “You can apply for up to $10,000 for each new job created. The specific business plan has to center on jobs. ... At times like these, we need jobs more than anything.”
Local communities evaluate the grant applications. The county can allocate all of its funds to one business or divide the money among several companies. There is a limit of two allocations per company, Branson said.
“We try to help as many people as we can,” Branson said. “We won’t cost-share more than 35 percent of a project.”
Wilkin asked how long the grant application process would take.
“If all conditions are met, a couple of months, but that’s hustling,” Branson said.
Branson said “Most of what we do is for small business, which we prefer, so you don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.”
For more on the foundation, visit www.soacdf.net.
• The county’s Investment Advisory Board held a brief meeting with Shane Wilkin, Bill Fawley and Vickie Warnock present. Investments and interest income were discussed. The county has approximately $5,171,000 in the bank, of which $300,000 is general fund money. The board discussed possible options on certificates of deposit investments. No action was taken.
In other action, the commissioners passed the following resolutions, all by 3-0 votes:
* The authorization of a modification to the Prosecutorial Diversion budget as follows: from Equipment to Other Expense in the amount of $1,414.95.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, County Miscellaneous, as follows: from Transfers to Workers’ Compensation in the amount of $3,393.56.
* The authorization of a modification to the Engineer’s budget as follows: from Salary Employees to Materials in the amount of $6,000 and from Contracts-Projects to Materials in the amount of $20,000 and from Contracts-Projects to Other Expense in the amount of $35,000.
* The authorization of a modification to the General Fund, Juvenile Probation and Probate Court budgets as follows: from Juvenile Probation SCORJDC to Juvenile Probation Supplies in the amount of $3,000 and from Juvenile Probation SCORJDC to Juvenile Probation, Telephone in the amount of $1,000, and from Juvenile Probation SCORJDC to Probate Court Telephone Service in the amount of $1,000.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the CAO Housing Rehabilitation budget as follows: from Unappropriated funds to Expenses, in the amount of $20,111. The additional funds are from the CHIP CDBG program grant.
* The authorization of a modification to the Soil & Water budget as follows: from Other Expense to Workers’ Comp. in the amount of $100.
* The authorization of a modification to General Fund, County Coroner, as follows: from Telephone Service to Other Expense in the amount of $237.40 and from Telephone Service to Supplies in the amount of $2.60.
* The authorization of additional appropriation to the General Fund, Sheriff, as follows: from Unappropriated Funds to Sheriff Employee Salaries in the amount of $2,672.36.
* The authorization of a modification to the Help Me Grow budget as follows: from Salary Employees to Workers’ Compensation in the amount of $1,000.