Lake County approves $60,000 bridge funding for EDC and Chamber to keep visitor center, business services running

The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on Oct. 7 to transfer $60,000 from the county's fiscal year 2025–26 cannabis fund to support two local organizations: $26,000 for the Lake County Economic Development Corporation and $34,000 for the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

Deputy County Administrative Officer Ben Rickelman told the board the joint request responds to an uncertain federal funding picture and a new shared-staff arrangement between the two organizations. "The Board and the Chamber have decided to do what I guess would be called a soft merger," Rickelman said, adding the groups plan to share an executive director, Nicole Flora, who currently leads the EDC.

The funding is framed as one-time bridge support while the EDC awaits notice about its U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant, a program Rickelman said has provided roughly $109,000 annually to the EDC and is slated to expire Sept. 30. "Without the requested support, the EDC's ability to deliver services is at risk," Nicole Flora, executive director of the Lake County Economic Development Corporation, told the supervisors.

Amanda Martin, outgoing CEO of the Lake County Chamber of Commerce, said the requested county contribution is intended to restore support for operation of the Vista Point Visitor Center, a county-designated visitor facility the chamber has operated for more than two decades. "This funding will allow us to retain key personnel, continue our programming, and ensure that Lake County businesses, entrepreneurs, and visitors have access to the resources that they need," Flora said.

Board members and members of the public sought safeguards and clearer performance expectations. One supervisor said funding must be used "for public benefit only," and asked that contract language prohibit political advocacy. Rickelman and board members said a formal contract with reporting and non-advocacy language will be drafted before funds are disbursed. "We plan to put in an agreement together," Rickelman said.

Members of the public and local stakeholders offered mixed views during public comment. Autumn Carsey, business owner and Chamber board member, urged restoration of visitor-center funding as an investment in local tourism and small businesses. Margo Kambara, a resident, urged the board to prefer performance-based contracts rather than administrative subsidies and warned of blurred accountability if one executive director answers to two separate nonprofit boards.

County staff clarified facility ownership and maintenance responsibilities during the discussion. Lars (Public Services Director) said the county does not own the visitor facility and operates under an agreement with the city and, originally, the state (Caltrans); the county is responsible for maintenance. Later, a board member apologized for an earlier misstatement and reiterated that the facility was built with public funds and serves as a county-designated visitor center.

The funding source and mechanics were specified in the motion: transfer $60,000 from the fiscal year 2025–26 economic development, housing and risk reduction allocation of the county cannabis fund (fund 064) to the two organizations ($26,000 to the EDC; $34,000 to the Chamber). Rickelman said the county has previously provided a $10,000 annual match tied to the USDA grant and that, if the federal grant is awarded, the EDC would repay the county "if those funds could be repaid." Board members confirmed the award is intended as a one-time stabilization, not an ongoing operating subsidy; the contract will return to the board for review.

The motion passed by roll call: the board chair called for the vote and recorded "aye" on all five members; the final tally was recorded as 5-0. The board directed staff to prepare a formal contract with expectations for allowable uses, reporting, and audit rights before the transfer is completed.

Documents and next steps: staff said a contract will be drafted specifying the visitor-center funding, performance reporting, and non-advocacy language. Specific performance metrics, audit milestones, and repayment contingencies tied to a USDA grant award were discussed but not finalized at the Oct. 7 meeting.

Why it matters: The transfer keeps county-supported visitor services and small-business advising operational while the EDC awaits federal funding. County members emphasized both fiscal safeguards and the economic importance of visitor services and business support to Lake County communities.