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County board approves support for Region 7W EDA application; funding decisions to follow
Summary
Benton County agreed to support the Initiative Foundation’s Region 7W Economic Development Administration application as a first step; staff emphasized approval authorizes submission only and any funding or match commitments will return to the board for later decisions.
Benton County commissioners voted to support the Initiative Foundation’s application to establish a Region 7W Economic Development Administration district.
Amanda (staff) reopened a discussion started July 15 and summarized recent county actions: Sherburne and Stearns counties have adopted supporting resolutions while Wright County did not place the item on its agenda. Amanda emphasized that today’s action was only to authorize submission of the federal EDA application; future decisions about county funding, match commitments (in-kind staff time or levy dollars) and governance would return to the board if the EDA approves the district.
Commissioners asked whether supporting the application would lock the county into continuing obligations. Amanda repeated that the board would later consider specific funding mechanisms, and that the Initiative Foundation currently has grant funds to establish the district and expects to rely on in-kind staff contributions initially.
Commissioner Poppe moved to support the Initiative Foundation’s Region 7W EDA application with the understanding that the board would review funding and participation once the federal application advances; the motion passed by voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will submit the application on behalf of Benton County and schedule future board discussions about funding and the structure of county participation if the EDA approves the district.
