Economic advisory board outlines RCOG outreach and notes commission’s SkyWest recommendation

The Economic Opportunity Advisory Board on March 25 reviewed county grant opportunities and set a timetable to solicit projects for the state—conomic-development RCOG/RCG program, while staff reported the County Commission had unanimously voted to recommend SkyWest as the county ir carrier to the Department of Transportation.

Melissa Jeffers, Grand County staff, told the board the county—ommittee received four proposals for airport service and met with SkyWest. "They chose SkyWest, unanimously 7–0 to recommend SkyWest to [the Department of Transportation]," Jeffers said, adding that award and service start dates depend on DOT ecisions and any interim extensions from the incumbent carrier. Jeffers and other members said a carrier change could take effect in late 2025 or early 2026, depending on contracting and DOT timing.

The meeting focused primarily on strategy for the RCOG grant cycle. Jeffers said Mackel has completed its contract and the county is again eligible to submit an RCOG project. The board discussed possible priorities including housing master planning (an 8-acre, 55-plus site the county is advancing with the Canyonlands Healthcare Special Service District), workforce training, EMS/search-and-rescue training, and infrastructure tied to the airport or industrial parcels.

Board members pressed for clearer guidance to potential applicants. "If you just have a workshop and say, tell us who might qualify, we're just back where we were last year," one member said, urging narrower parameters. Chris Wilson, a voting member, recommended letting the work and project goals drive meeting frequency and suggested a short information session so possible applicants could ask the RCOG/RCG administrator questions before preparing full proposals.

A state representative on the call, Deborah, summarized the RCOG eligibility categories: business recruitment, development and expansion; workforce training and development; and infrastructure, industrial building and capital facilities improvements. She reminded the board that applications require a funding match; participants discussed that the local match is commonly around 30 percent and said staff would verify the exact requirement.

The board settled on a timeline: staff will send information to prospective applicants in April; May and June would be used for presentations and vetting; the advisory board aims to forward recommendations to the County Commission in July so the commission can place final projects on its August agenda before the state's application window opens in September and closes in mid-October.

Members also discussed practical screening to reduce staff workload: pre-screening by economic-development staff, a narrow invite list for the workshop (airport, EMS, OSTA, the Chamber, the Canyonlands health-care special service district and county aging services were suggested), and focusing on projects that align with the county evelopment strategy. Jeffers said she would circulate prior planning materials and a strategic project list to help the board identify synergies.

Administrative business concluded the meeting: members moved to correct a misspelled name in the minutes and to note a membership change; the minutes were approved with those amendments and the board adjourned.

The board will review project presentations in May and June and is expected to make formal project recommendations to the County Commission ahead of the state's September application period.