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Board outlines $200,000 rural grant application and proposes $50,000 for workforce training
Summary
Board members and staff discussed applying for a $200,000 rural county grant with a proposed $50,000 allocation for workforce, trades training and community education programs, and explored partnerships with Southwest Tech and local employers.
Board staff reported that the rural county grant portal is open and that the county is eligible to apply for $200,000 for the 2025/2026 round. Staff said application character limits require a concise template but that the board will craft a flexible application that can cover several types of projects.
"So it's 200,000," staff said. The board discussed earmarking $50,000 of that potential award for workforce development, training and skills programs aimed at trades, nursing, trucking and other high-demand local occupations. Staff described prior programs (the BEAR program) and partnerships with Southwest Tech and Utah Tech as potential delivery partners for both high-school and community-based training.
Members pressed on specifics for apprenticeships and community training. One member suggested funding apprenticeships for electricians, plumbers and HVAC professionals; staff said $50,000 was included in the draft working budget for education components and that the board has funded trade programs (cosmetology, welding, trucking) in the past.
The board also discussed practical barriers: minimum enrollment requirements for on-site classes (for example, Southwest Tech wanting about 10 participants for certain classes) and the challenge of mixing community members with high-school students in the same class. Members proposed evening community sessions and sponsorships with local employers for CDL training.
A public commenter noted county workforce gaps, citing child daycare business closures and first responder shortages and suggested training support could address those gaps. Staff said the grant application is due in early September and that timely submission is critical to secure the funding.
The board directed staff to finalize the application template and considered including language to allow flexibility in deploying funds across workforce, business expansion and infrastructure needs.
