Economic Opportunity Advisory Board hears 15 grant pitches, schedules special meeting to finalize recommendations

The Grand County Economic Opportunity Advisory Board on a presentation-heavy meeting heard pitches from local businesses and nonprofit groups seeking county grant support and decided to hold a follow-up meeting next Wednesday at 4 p.m. to finish deliberations.

Board Chair Chris Wilson opened the meeting with introductions and an outline of the funding context: the board is assembling proposals for a pool that includes a $200,000 rural-county grant allocation and larger statewide competition grants. “One question I want to ask everyone … is whether you want to be considered for partial funding,” Wilson told presenters, repeating that partial awards were possible because funds must be combined into packages that meet grant rules.

Why it matters: the proposals presented would affect local workforce development, visitor services and small-business capacity in Moab and Grand County. The board’s follow-up meeting will narrow applications it forwards to the county and, for larger asks, to state or regional grant programs.

What was presented…