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Regional development council outlines rural grocery grants, poultry lending and capacity support for counties
Summary
Brent Jackson of the Clark Regional Development Council briefed commissioners on available programs: a poultry-intermediary lending program with revolving funds, a rural grocery sustainability grant (competitive, up to $150,000 with 20% match, enroll by Sept. 3), and a state-funded capacity boost to help counties apply for grants.
Brent Jackson, executive director with the Clark Regional Development Council, presented the council's work and current grant and loan programs available to rural counties.
Jackson described three items that could directly affect county economic development: the rural livestock planning grant (22 counties completed, 17 remaining in the current phase), the Poultry Intermediary Lending Program (MPILP) that the council said has a revolving pool from an initial $15 million allocation, and a rural grocery store sustainability grant. He said the grocery-grant application is open, competitively allocated and intended for smaller communities (population under 4,500); awards can be up to $150,000 and require a 20% match from the owner, town, regional council or other sources. Jackson noted the MPILP supports processing infrastructure (slaughterhouses, cold storage and trucking) rather than retail alone, and outlined preferential low interest terms—about 1.5% for terms up to 10 years, 2.5% for 10–20 years and higher for longer terms.
Jackson also said the state recently provided funding to regional councils to expand capacity to help local governments apply for and administer grants; the regional council will run grant-support and technical assistance and plans to post a white paper on county-level revenue impacts once third-party analysis is complete.
Commissioners asked how matching funds could be structured; Jackson said matches can come from owners, cities, the council or other sources and the council will help structure applications.
Next steps: Counties that want assistance should contact the regional council to begin the application process before September deadlines.
