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Greene County to Reapply for CDBG Microenterprise Grants; Officials Cite Large Pipeline of Small Businesses
Summary
The Greene County Economic Development office asked the legislature to authorize submission of a Community Development Block Grant microenterprise application and to execute related documents; the committee approved the request after a discussion of program rules, past results and oversight.
James, Greene County economic development staff, told the Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Committee on April 14 that the office will seek a new round of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) microenterprise funding and asked the committee to authorize submission of the grant application and execution of related documents.
The county previously secured a $300,000 award in February 2023 for the microenterprise program, James said; of that, about $255,000 was deployed to 12 microenterprises, producing eight new jobs and supporting roughly $306,000 in total project activity. “We have a pipeline of, like, 60 businesses ready to go,” James said, describing applicants who prequalified for the program.
The resolution approved by the committee authorizes the county to submit the application and enter related subrecipient and program documents. James said the program’s administrative structure routes awards through a local corporation’s loan committee and board, which conduct underwriting and make final award determinations. He described the county’s practice of holding reimbursements until state review confirms eligible expenses and proof of job creation when job-creation is a program requirement.
Committee members asked how awards are monitored and how the county limits financial risk. James said the county requires documentation before reimbursement; the state also audits recipients. “By the time it comes out of the treasury here, there is no risk,” James said, explaining that the state pays the county after it approves reimbursements.
The committee voted to authorize submission of the microenterprise application and execution of related documents. No additional funding amounts were adopted during the meeting; the vote authorized application and execution steps only.
The action continues a county effort to provide working capital and training to small businesses unable to secure traditional bank financing, and to speed reimbursements by aligning county procedures with state environmental-review and reimbursement processes.
Votes at the meeting: The Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Committee approved the resolution to submit the CDBG microenterprise application and execute related documents.
