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Indian River County commissioners back streamlined Local Jobs Grant Program
Summary
The board voted unanimously to recommend revisions that raise wage eligibility, shorten job-creation timelines, move to annual reporting, add a clawback and increase the program ceiling, with final adoption dependent on available funding and a future resolution.
The Indian River County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously on June 2 to recommend adoption of a revised Local Jobs Grant Program intended to simplify requirements and increase incentives for businesses that create local jobs.
Planning and Development Services staff member Doug Dumbrossski presented the proposed changes after a 10-year performance review that found the program had assisted only two businesses from 2017–2025. Dumbrossski said the revisions aim to reduce administrative burdens and improve return on investment for participating companies.
"The existing local jobs grant program is underperforming," Dumbrossski said. He summarized key changes: raising the minimum qualifying wage to 100% of the Indian River County average wage; shortening the job-creation period to a maximum three years; replacing quarterly reporting with annual reports; and paying 100% of the jobs grant reimbursement once annual verification is complete. He also highlighted a new clawback provision for businesses that fail to meet representations.
The county will apply a two-tier incentive structure tied to wages: jobs paying 100–149% of the county average wage would be eligible for a payment equal to 20% of the county average wage per job; jobs paying 150% or more would be eligible for a higher percentage (as described in staff materials). The program ceiling was increased in the proposed guidelines to $1.5 million overall, with a per-business limit of $500,000 in any single budget year. Each application will be considered case by case and remain subject to available funding.
Lance Lunsford, chair of the county Economic Development Council, and Brian Kartland, vice president of economic development at the Chamber of Commerce, both urged adoption. Lunsford called the effort "historic" for the county and said the EDC was unanimous in recommending the revisions. Kartland described the program as a "powerful tool" that aligns with the county’s strategic action plan.
Commissioners praised the streamlining and emphasized the need for proactive marketing and targeted outreach to attract employers. After discussion the board approved a motion to recommend the resolution revising the Local Jobs Grant Program; the motion passed 4–0 with Commissioner Susan Adams absent. The revised guidelines and the associated agreement will return for formal adoption and implementation steps.
What happens next: The board’s vote is a recommendation to adopt the revised guidelines; final approval and any individual grant awards will come at future meetings and depend on available appropriations.
