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County updates: land-bank donation to Habitat for Humanity, Opportunity Zone nomination and YMCA survey
Summary
Officials reported the county-donated Paoli parcel will be given to Habitat for Humanity to build two houses next year; Economic Development said the governor must nominate an Opportunity Zone tract by September, YMCA survey work starts next week, and $40,000 in small-business grants were awarded.
Bobby Abel, introduced by the chair as representing the Upland Regional Land Bank (introduced SEG 293), said the county-donated parcel in Paoli has been cleared and listed and that the land bank arranged to donate the lot to Habitat for Humanity so that two houses can be built next year instead of one.
Skyler of the Economic Development Partnership (speaker 12) updated commissioners about an Opportunity Zone nomination for an eligible census tract that the governor must submit by the end of September. Skyler cautioned that the designation does not provide direct grant funding but creates tax incentives intended to attract private investment for redevelopment if the tract is selected; the Opportunity Zone would last 10 years if nominated and accepted.
Skyler also said the YMCA feasibility study will begin phone surveys next week, with initial findings expected in mid-August, and that the Washington County YMCA engaged Foursquare Research to conduct the work. He reported awarding $40,000 in small-business grant monies to seven local businesses from more than $90,000 in requests and asked to reserve the community center's nonprofit free use date for Manufacturing Day on Oct. 21; the board approved that request.
Priscilla Woodrum (introduced SEG 390) said an application is in for a $400,000 grant to expand food pantry and home-delivery meal services, noting the project requires a local match made up of cash and in-kind volunteer hours.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about survey outreach limits and declined to allow proactive advertising of the YMCA survey in order to avoid bias, consistent with the consultant's instructions.
Next steps include monitoring the Opportunity Zone nomination deadline, receiving the YMCA study results in mid-August, and following the land-bank transfer and Habitat for Humanity building schedule.
