Governor’s office trains Duchesne County advisory board on rural grant rules and deadlines

James Dixon, a representative of the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, led a training session for the Duchesne County Economic Advisory Board on May 6, 2025, explaining how the office’s rural grant programs work and what local advisory boards must do to remain eligible for funding.

The training explained that the Rural County Grant (RCG) provides up to $200,000 annually to eligible rural counties and that the competitive Rural Communities Opportunity Grant (RCOG) can award up to $600,000 for larger projects. “The rural counties can receive up to $200,000 annually through the rural county grant,” Dixon said. He also warned that available statewide RCOG funding was smaller in 2025: “This year, unfortunately, we’re only getting $2,500,000,” making awards more competitive than in prior years.

Why this matters: Duchesne County’s advisory board must be properly formed and in compliance with state law to continue receiving and administering those funds. The board’s advice determines which projects the county nominates for awards that can fund workforce training, business recruitment and expansion, and infrastructure to support industrial development.

Dixon walked members through the statutory and administrative requirements that govern county advisory boards and grant administration. He said the advisory boards are established under Utah code section 63-4-803 and are subject to the Open and Public Meetings Act; boards must keep minutes, hold public meetings, adhere to conflict-of-interest rules and file annual reports. “These boards are organized for only one [primary] purpose, and that is to administer these grants,” Dixon said.

Dixon described typical eligible uses and examples from other counties: custom workforce training tied to industry certifications and CDL programs, site‑ready work and utility upgrades tied directly to business expansion, small subgrants to help local retailers with capital purchases, and downtown revitalization that can grow local sales tax revenue. He emphasized the difference between general community infrastructure and projects that clearly drive business growth: a power-line upgrade that primarily serves residents is community development, but an upgrade that directly enables two expanding manufacturers would be considered economic development eligible for RCOG funding.

On timing and paperwork, Dixon and GOEO staff gave specific deadlines and administrative steps: annual reports documenting prior-year spending must be filed before a county’s next application opens, the county’s annual report window opens May 15, reports are due by July 30, and the competitive RCOG application is due no later than Sept. 1. He encouraged boards to submit annual reports early so applications can be opened sooner.

Dixon reviewed budget context and past award patterns: the office awarded roughly $5.4 million for RCOG in a recent year, and GOEO distributed about $16 million in RCOG funds statewide over the past three years; typical awards range from about $42,000 to $600,000, with many grants in the $300,000–$400,000 range. He said the program usually receives roughly 30 applications per round and that fewer than half of applicants receive awards in a given year.

Dixon and other presenters recommended practical grant-writing and documentation practices: describe anticipated deliverables, provide a proposed budget showing how the county would use the RCG $200,000 allocation, and document private or other public matching funds when applying for RCOG. GOEO maintains a consolidated web page and an applicant guide to make funding opportunities and application instructions easier to find.

The training included examples the board could consider when advising commissioners: workforce training linked to employer hires and certification, grants for site-preparation to attract major employers, small subgrants for capital improvements in local businesses, and marketing assistance to help town businesses increase customer traffic. Presenters noted that GOEO allows cities and associations of governments to apply directly under some circumstances and explained matching requirements for competitive awards.

The training closed with practical recommendations to document outcomes publicly (site visits, photos, testimonial presentations) so the county can demonstrate impact when seeking future appropriations from the Legislature.

Duchesne County board members and GOEO staff said they will use the agency guide and the office’s online resources for future applications and reporting.