Commissioners discussed using a $112,000 USDA grant to upgrade the county 'red barn,' with one commissioner saying the county already has about $300,000 available for the project.

Unidentified Speaker 1 said earlier environmental studies and labor costs initially made the USDA funds impractical, but that the grant could now be used for equipment and other permanent upgrades the county intends to keep even if the property is later sold. "We can utilize the $112,000 to utilize it in ways that I'm gonna... for anything that we can," the speaker said.

The speaker listed permanent items such as toilets, heating systems, stoves, refrigerators, desks and chairs as examples of equipment the county would retain. Commissioners said they will meet with Amanda Littleton and UNH Cooperative Extension to identify improvements that strengthen the program and to confirm priorities for the grant money.

No formal contract or final appropriation was adopted at the session; follow-up meetings with extension partners were proposed to finalize the scope and spending plan.