County manager proposes $90,000 small-business grant pool; commissioners raise oversight and return-on-investment concerns

County staff presented a $90,000 economic-development proposal intended to seed business launches or expansions, prompting questions about oversight and expected returns.

The manager described the proposal as a pool of $90,000 that would supply grants for local businesses that submit viable business plans; a committee or an economic-development committee would evaluate applications and award grants to projects deemed sustainable. "What do we think we need in the county? Who can we reach out to? Or who wants to if they could get a jump start, who wants to come into our county, and who do we want to have come into the county?" staff said.

Several commissioners recalled past county investments in economic development (including a multi-year Chamber-funded effort and a grocery-store incentive) that resulted in limited returns, and they urged stricter contractual safeguards. One commissioner cited a $20,000 incentive to a grocery store that closed and later required contract enforcement to recover funds.

Suggestions included redirecting a portion of the proposal toward recreation or the county fair, and one commissioner proposed splitting the $90,000 so $10,000 would go to the fair and $80,000 toward ballfields. Other commissioners favored creating an application-review committee and crafting legally enforceable award agreements to limit county exposure.

Commissioners did not finalize the economic-development grant program at the session. Staff said they would continue to refine the proposal, including possible committee oversight and contract terms, and to consider alternative allocations if the board preferred different priorities.