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Advisory board outlines process for state economic grants and forms subcommittee to draft application materials
Summary
Board members agreed to issue a public 'intent to apply' call and create a three-person subcommittee to draft an application form and a simple rubric to screen ideas for the Rural County Grant (RCG) and Rural County Opportunity Grant (RCOG); members emphasized urgency because of near-term deadlines and limited county staff support.
MOAB, Utah — Members of the Grand County Economic Opportunity Advisory Board on Feb. 26 heard a presentation on near-term state grant opportunities and agreed to form a subcommittee to draft a public call for ideas and a screening rubric ahead of upcoming deadlines.
Board members discussed the Rural County Grant (RCG) and the Rural County Opportunity Grant (RCOG) and the fast-approaching timeline for recommending projects to the county commission. One member summarized the stakes: the two grants together could support roughly $800,000 in local projects before matching funds are considered. Members repeatedly raised the problem that the county moved the economic development duties out of the TRT-funded department after an audit, leaving the board without dedicated county staff to prepare formal state submissions.
To respond, the board approved a motion to create a three-person subcommittee charged with drafting a concise "intent to apply" form (a brief expression-of-interest Google form), the call-for-ideas language, and a simple rubric for initial screening. Volunteers named for the subcommittee were Alyssa, Britney Melton and Chris Wilson; the amended motion authorizing the subcommittee to develop a rubric passed unanimously.
Members discussed a two-track outreach approach: an open call for ideas to gather broad community input and targeted engagement with credible project partners who can manage larger awards and required matching funds. Suggestions included linking applicants to state grant guidance, publishing a one-page summary of requirements, offering a short checklist for eligibility and using county web pages, Chamber networks and social media for distribution.
Board members set internal timelines for the process: a cut-off for initial submissions in mid-March so members can review and shortlist applications before subsequent meetings, followed by presentations by selected applicants and a final recommendation to the commission in time for the commission’s agenda. The subcommittee agreed to draft the materials and circulate them for board feedback.
What happens next: the subcommittee will prepare the draft call for ideas, the intent-to-apply form and a short rubric; the board will screen submissions and then recommend prioritized projects to the county commission for formal application and potential county-administered submission to the state.
