Tooele County Economic Opportunities Board members on Aug. 21 discussed plans to pursue the 2026 Rural County Opportunity Grant (often called a Part B grant) and identified Wendover workforce training, airport infrastructure upgrades and water/sewer work in a business park as candidate projects.

Ryan England, a meeting speaker, told the board the county can apply for up to $600,000 from the state for projects that include business recruitment or workforce training. “We can apply up to 600,000,” he said. England also said the county must be prepared to commit local matching funds and noted an early step: notifying the governor’s office of intent to apply by Aug. 29 so state staff can assist in application preparation.

The board framed the grant as a short timeline opportunity: England said the application opens “on the fifteenth” and is due in mid to late October, and that award funds would generally need to be encumbered by June 30 of the following fiscal year. He characterized the state’s assistance as useful for improving the county’s chances of winning funding.

Discussion focused on three candidate uses. First, members described an adult learning center in Wendover where Tooele Tech could offer instructor-led programs for adults and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) could provide periodic business-startup services. John Brewer said Wendover lacks local adult training space and that some current adult learners commute or enroll virtually. Board members discussed whether to renovate an existing building or lease space, and observed that renovating an existing building would “get a lot more bang for your buck.”

Second, board members raised airport infrastructure needs, including water and electrical upgrades to hangars. County representatives said the airport receives FAA grants that affect what uses may be allowed on airport property and that some airport parcels are subject to federal grant restrictions. That, members said, could complicate reusing certain wartime-era buildings for non-aeronautical uses.

Third, members discussed looping water and sewer into the business park near Tooele Tech so sites there could support more employers. A board speaker said those utilities would enable additional jobs for graduates of local training programs.

Board members asked city and county staff to compile project maps, cost estimates and ownership details and to return with numbers at the next board meeting. John Brewer agreed to provide infrastructure numbers and maps for the business-park work; county staff said they would meet with the airport director to inventory buildings and clarify which structures could be reused. No formal motion to apply for the grant was recorded at the meeting.

Why it matters: the Part B grant is targeted at infrastructure, workforce development or business expansion in rural communities under 10,000 people. If the county proceeds, staff said the governor’s office can help shape the application to improve competitiveness.

What’s next: board members will collect budgets and maps, meet with the airport director and report back at the next meeting so the county council can be asked to commit any required matching funds before an application is submitted.