Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Agriculture Farm Relief topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grayson EDA approves second round of farm-relief grants, opens 30-day application period starting April 1
Summary
The Grayson County Economic Development Authority voted to reopen its Ag Fund farm-relief program for a second round of new applications starting April 1 for 30 days, continuing the same eligibility criteria used in the first round, which distributed roughly $100,000 across 79 applicants from an initial $200,000 allocation.
The Grayson County Economic Development Authority voted to open a second round of its farm-relief program, starting April 1 and remaining open for 30 days, to allow producers who missed the first application window to apply.
The authority approved the restart after the board and its agricultural advisory committee reviewed the first round’s outcomes. Kevin and Wayne, members of the advisory group, told the board the committee recommended a new 30‑day window using the same application and criteria as round one. “The intent of the second round is to open up the same process, same criteria … for people that did not get to apply the first round,” a committee member said during the meeting.
Why it matters: the first round followed an earlier EDA vote to allocate $200,000 for storm-recovery farm relief. That first round drew 79 applications and resulted in roughly $100,000 disbursed in the initial check run. The second round aims to reach producers who were missed or believed other funding sources would cover their losses and may address items FSA (Farm Service Agency) does not cover, such as washouts, farm roads, feed bins and on‑farm debris removal.
Details of the program: the EDA-appointed ad committee — which included representatives from FSA, NRCS, stormwater, cooperative extension, county staff and EDA members — handled the first round evaluation. Board members said the new round will use the same scoring and payout formula approved previously (the transcript referenced the prior 20–23% formula). The board asked staff to advertise and prepare an April 1 launch, with a 30‑day application window and anticipated processing in May. Staff said checks for the first round were processed in a single February check run after the December application deadline.
Board direction and timeline: the board agreed to the committee’s recommendation and asked staff to finalize the application and distribution plan. Gary (EDA communications contact) agreed to include the application notice in the White Top newsletter and on the county website; staff said they could place the application link and advertise in local channels. The board discussed processing time and confirmed that payouts would likely occur after application review, with staff estimating the first payments of a round could be processed by May.
What the board did not decide: the board did not change criteria or add new funding categories beyond those suggested by the committee; it limited the action to reopening the application for new applicants under the same rules.
Ending: Staff will post the application and advertising materials in advance of April 1, and the EDA will reconvene as needed to monitor the program and process award checks.
