The Rural County Grant Program for Carbon County has received grant funding from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity again this year and are currently taking applications. Carbon County Economic Development & Tourism Director, Shanny Wilson took time to come to Castle Country Radio to discuss the details.

“The goal of it is really to help local businesses, you have to be located in Carbon County, we want them to be able to expand, and grow, and develop. That’s primarily what we want the grant to be used for. We’ve been really lucky to receive this funding over the course of the last few years from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity,” stated Wilson. The county are the ones assisting in the application process and accepting those applications. Eligible applicants include for profit businesses, non-profit organizations and local government entities.

The Rural County Grant Program is designed to address the economic development needs of Carbon County. “It is a 50/50 match, sorry an in-kind match, so there are other ways and opportunities to help fund these developments. But it can also be used for infrastructure, workforce development, capital facilitates improvements for business development and all of the above. Again, we cover the entire county,” said Wilson. Eligible applicants must pre-qualify and present their project to the County Economic Development (CED) Board. Examples of projects/expenses that are not eligible for the Rural Grant Program is if project area is not located in Carbon County, short-term payroll, operating expenses, utilities, property taxes.

The application process is quite simple as Wilson further explains, “Go to the Carbon County webpage and if then go to departments, they can click on Economic Development, Rural County Grant, and all of the information is right there.” Please keep in mind that those who apply early have a better chance of receiving funding. The grant application schedule and submission details will rotate through three cycles.

Cycle 1         Applicants who apply between October 1 2022 and November 30 2022 will be considered for funding in December.

Cycle 2         Applicants who apply between December 1 2022 and January 31 2023 will be considered for funding in February.

Cycle 3         Applicants who apply between February 1 2023 and March 31 2023 will be considered for funding in April.

For further information about the Rural County Grant Program please call Shanny Wilson at (435) 636-3295 or email her at shanny.wilson@carbon.utah.gov