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County to apply for EDA grant and fund an economic‑development specialist
Summary
Torrance County authorized staff to apply for an Economic Development Administration Economic Adjustment Assistance grant to fund a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan and temporarily cover salary and benefits for an Economic Development Specialist by repurposing a vacant grants position and reallocating $25,000 previously appropriated for EVEDA.
County Manager J. Jordan Barela told commissioners the Economic Development Administration has invited applications for multi‑year Economic Adjustment Assistance grants that could fund a Comprehensive Economic Development Plan and staff to implement it. Barela asked the board to approve submitting a grant application that would cover three years of a plan and salary for an Economic Development Specialist, and to reclassify a vacant Grants Assistant to provide local match.
Barela said $25,000 previously earmarked for the Estancia Valley Economic Development Association could be reallocated to help meet the grant match and that the county expects the EDA award to support planning, ordinance updates and program development. The board approved the concept and instructed staff to bring detailed job descriptions, grant language and budget revisions back for formal approval.
Commissioners discussed the timeline and the desire to accelerate program rollout after the plan is completed. The proposal includes a 20% EDA match requirement and a path to sustain the specialist position after the grant period using repurposed county funds if the award is made.
The vote: motion to apply and repurpose funds carried unanimously.
