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Commissioners debate hiring 'Sustainable Strategies' vs. building in-house grant capacity
Summary
Presenters urged the commission to try a $13,000-a-year contract with an outside grant firm to pursue federal funding; several commissioners urged caution based on past capacity concerns and recommended stronger county oversight or hiring internal grant expertise.
A presenter described how an outside firm referred to as Sustainable Strategies could help the county find and pursue federal grant dollars and proposed a one-year trial contract. "For $13,000 a year, we can get millions in grant funding that's otherwise very difficult to go after because of all the avenues they have," the presenter said, urging commissioners to consider a short trial and careful oversight.
Several commissioners expressed skepticism rooted in previous experiences with outside contractors, saying the county had been "left with a small sliver" of awards in the past and lacked a persistent on‑the‑ground presence to drive applications. Commissioners urged the board to identify who would manage grant leads and the back-end reporting — with several suggesting the treasurer's office, a dedicated grant writer, or a county administrator to ensure awards are properly administered. The presenters and county staff agreed to work with the treasurer and return with a proposal outlining responsibilities, reporting, and a one‑year trial structure.
