Williams County commissioners voted June 17 to confirm a $200,000 contribution from the county's 2025 community engagement budget to the STAR Fund cost‑share program.

The money is earmarked to cost‑share projects and programs that apply through the county STAR Fund. Lindsey, community engagement staff, told commissioners the county has received its first application this year from a manufacturing entity.

Lindsey said, "In the 2025 budget for community engagement, the commission had approved $200,000 as part of our annual STAR Fund cost share partnership contribution. We received our first application for consideration this year for a manufacturing entity in the county." She added that the Bank of North Dakota pays the funds when a project goes to financing and that about $194,000 of the allocation was used last year.

The board moved, seconded and authorized the chairman to sign the documents necessary to reserve the $200,000 for STAR Fund cost sharing. Roll call votes recorded by name showed Mary, Steve, Corey, Beau, Chris and Barry voting yes; the motion carried unanimously.

What happens next: staff will continue processing the application through the established STAR Fund review process and, if approved by the funding committee, the county's cost share will be reserved and paid at the time of financing.

Why it matters: the county's cost share aims to help private development projects meet financing requirements and can accelerate construction of county economic development projects.