[0:42] I think that's what it is.

[8:27] » Sorry.

[8:35] » I need five.

[8:36] >> All right. Where are we broadcasting?

[8:38] >> Uh we're doing the minutes.

[8:39] >> Are we on the agenda or

[8:41] >> Uh not for this meeting.

[8:45] » All right.

[8:47] It is 3:04 on June 24th.

[8:51] And I call this meeting of the Economic

[8:54] Opportunity Advisory Board to session.

[8:57] Um

[8:59] Yeah, Britney is away vacationing in

[9:01] Barcelona. So, poor us here doing the

[9:04] work.

[9:06] Um

[9:08] Yeah, welcome everyone. Let's go around

[9:10] and do quick introductions.

[9:13] Deborah, want to start?

[9:15] >> I'm Deborah McKee with the Governor's

[9:17] Office of Economic Development.

[9:21] >> I am Amanda Folk. Um I work at Simplot

[9:24] and I work at Simplot and I'm also on

[9:25] the Chamber Board.

[9:27] >> Pamela Gibson, Castle Valley.

[9:30] >> Ashley Cornblath, Western Spirit.

[9:32] >> Remember the people?

[9:33] >> Is that right?

[9:35] >> Yeah.

[9:35] >> Voting number, right?

[9:36] >> Yeah, yeah.

[9:38] >> Aaron Lemberg voting member.

[9:40] >> Jody McCommons, Grand County

[9:42] Commissioner Liaison.

[9:44] >> Nancy Jeffers, Grand County staff.

[9:47] >> Cora.

[9:50] Phillips,

[9:52] Director of Moab Chamber of Commerce,

[9:54] just attending non-voting member.

[9:57] >> Chris Wilson,

[9:58] voting member on the board.

[10:00] Do we have anyone else online? Corey.

[10:04] would you like to introduce

[10:05] yourself if you're available?

[10:10] Okay, well, Corey Shercliff from the

[10:12] City of Moab may is is potentially

[10:15] joining us as well.

[10:18] Okay, any conflicts of interest,

[10:21] disclosures, ex parte communications

[10:22] that needs to be disclosed?

[10:25] Seeing none, we'll move on.

[10:28] Any citizens to be heard?

[10:32] Cora,

[10:33] I'm just kidding. You're the only

[10:34] citizen, so.

[10:35] >> Yes, [snorts]

[10:38] so I passed out before the meeting

[10:40] little cards. Maggie with the Moab Sun

[10:44] is working to connect

[10:46] residents and visitors to events that

[10:49] are going on in our community. So, she

[10:52] has a little QR code.

[10:54] There's a newsletter that you can get

[10:56] weekly on the events that are happening

[10:58] for the week in Moab.

[11:01] So, I encourage you to share that. I'll

[11:03] be sharing it with

[11:05] the different lodging

[11:07] partners

[11:09] after this meeting.

[11:12] I encourage you to share it and then on

[11:15] July 9th

[11:17] the Moab Chamber of Commerce is hosting

[11:20] Dax Jacobson. He's with He's a Dean of

[11:24] the Gore School of Business and

[11:25] instructor with the David Eccles

[11:29] of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Business

[11:31] Program. So, he's going to be

[11:33] leading attendees on assessment of

[11:36] usability assessment and how to put eyes

[11:39] on the blind spots that you might have

[11:41] in your business.

[11:42] >> He also has a really awesome podcast

[11:44] called the Rural Towns Project, and I

[11:46] was recently on an episode if you want

[11:49] to listen to it.

[11:50] >> [laughter]

[11:50] >> It was really good.

[11:51] >> He's fantastic. I've seen him speak

[11:52] twice at the San Juan County Business

[11:55] Boot Camp.

[11:57] Really is committed to rural communities

[11:59] and supporting them through their

[12:01] growth. So, I encourage everyone to

[12:02] attend.

[12:03] >> Thanks. Sounds great.

[12:05] Um okay.

[12:06] >> It'll be 5:30 at the Grange Center, July

[12:08] 9th.

[12:09] >> Thank you. Important information.

[12:13] Great. So, next up is presentations, but

[12:15] I think what we have for presentations

[12:17] is nothing besides the ones that are

[12:18] specifically listed. Um so, we'll go

[12:20] through updates from folks.

[12:23] Um

[12:24] Commissioner McKendrick, do you have

[12:26] anything to share?

[12:27] >> Sure.

[12:27] As since we haven't met for a while, a

[12:28] lot has been happening at the county. Um

[12:32] I'll let Melissa update on a lot of the

[12:34] EOA stuff, but as far as

[12:36] the other boards and and that I'm on, so

[12:38] I just got done meeting with

[12:40] Babcock Design for the public safety

[12:43] building. And so, that was the first

[12:44] draft came before us today, and it was

[12:47] really exciting because I was nervous

[12:48] that it wasn't going to fit within that

[12:50] um you know, the fixed gateway taxes

[12:52] that which is a point 0 3 tax that the

[12:54] commission can implement if we have a

[12:57] plan for it and if we decide to do it.

[12:59] And we can it seems like it might fit

[13:02] within that, which was really exciting.

[13:03] We sent him back with some changes. Like

[13:05] to see the courthouse added into the

[13:07] public safety building, but the the

[13:09] spot is this this footprint, um but

[13:12] keeping everyone here in this building

[13:14] as we build the new jail on the other

[13:15] side of it. So, that was an update. So,

[13:18] we'll get it should be coming forth.

[13:21] Hoping to plan a workshop with the

[13:23] commission, the entire commission, and

[13:25] within the next month, month and a half,

[13:27] so the whole community can see what the

[13:29] plans are and the whole commission and

[13:31] then we can vote on that tax to see if

[13:33] it's something that we want to

[13:33] implement. The Canyon Lands Health Care

[13:36] Special Service District is also a board

[13:38] that I'm on and we have um an RFP out

[13:42] right now for the MAPS Master Plan,

[13:46] which is the 8 acres that's right behind

[13:48] the hospital and the Grand Center and

[13:50] that's owned by the health district and

[13:52] it's deeded to be only used for senior

[13:54] housing. talked about this before, but

[13:56] we have currently six proposals. Um it

[13:58] closes June 30th, so I have a special

[14:00] meeting in July to go over those

[14:02] proposals and to pick someone to to

[14:04] start working on that master plan and

[14:06] that master plan will

[14:08] um include public engagement, so I'm

[14:10] sure I'll be letting you all know.

[14:11] That's not due to be completed until the

[14:13] end of the year. That's kind of the

[14:15] timeline on that. So to have that master

[14:16] plan and then to go forward with what are we really going to do?

[14:20] Um the same thing is the Care Center is

[14:23] uh 32 bed facility, but it was planned

[14:26] to be a 64 bed facility, so within the

[14:29] next 2 years the Care Center plans to

[14:31] hire an architect and get moving and um

[14:34] get a loan from CIB and move forward

[14:37] with the expansion on the Care Center.

[14:39] So we'll be breaking ground with that

[14:40] within the next 2 years.

[14:42] So that's really exciting news on that.

[14:45] I'm sure that you all heard that SkyWest

[14:48] um was selected as the So thank you all

[14:51] for that study and everything that went

[14:53] into um getting SkyWest as our airline

[14:56] for um Grand County our regional airport

[15:00] and I think that they will start like in

[15:01] October is when they will start flying

[15:04] and that will be to Salt Lake and to

[15:05] Denver will be the flights out of um

[15:10] Grand County.

[15:12] And I think that's I mean that's that's

[15:14] about the big stuff that's been

[15:16] happening. Do you have a question?

[15:18] >> Um when will those flights be available?

[15:20] I get calls before you do.

[15:23] >> I don't know when those flights will be

[15:24] available.

[15:24] >> October 1st.

[15:26] >> But what about like booking

[15:26] >> That they won't When will they start the

[15:28] book them? When will they see them?

[15:29] >> I don't know. Good question.

[15:31] >> I'll text Steve.

[15:33] That's why I haven't seen I have a

[15:34] meeting with um SkyWest

[15:37] tomorrow.

[15:37] >> Tomorrow? That is tomorrow.

[15:39] >> So I yeah, so I have a meeting with

[15:40] SkyWest tomorrow. So Cody from SkyWest

[15:42] will be here tomorrow.

[15:44] And uh I'll find out more about I did I

[15:46] was looking on Yeah, you can't book

[15:48] after October 1st with our current with

[15:50] Contour. You can book all the way

[15:52] through September with them. But then

[15:54] after that Yeah, I I was messing around

[15:55] with it the other day, so

[15:57] >> And then if somebody flies in from the

[15:58] hub in September and wants to fly out in

[16:01] October, what does that look like if

[16:02] >> Yeah.

[16:03] >> It's two tickets, I guess,

[16:05] >> right? What was that?

[16:06] >> I mean, it'll have to be two tickets

[16:07] then, right?

[16:07] >> Probably.

[16:09] But I mean, this happens all the time

[16:11] that you have companies that are moving

[16:12] in and out in the in small regional so

[16:14] I'm sure there's some way around that,

[16:15] but I'll I'll Yeah, I'll ask Cody

[16:18] tomorrow when I have a meeting with him.

[16:20] >> Connecting to other carriers was one of

[16:22] the problems before, so I would

[16:24] recommend getting two tickets.

[16:26] >> Yeah, ticket in and then ticket out,

[16:28] yeah.

[16:29] But yeah, when are they going to Yeah,

[16:31] the the he's when are they going to have

[16:32] their tickets up for sale? No, I don't

[16:34] want them

[16:36] on any other airline cuz it would be um

[16:38] either Delta or Southwest or United if

[16:40] you were going to book in that way.

[16:43] Um

[16:44] It should be better.

[16:46] >> Yeah, no, together for sure.

[16:50] >> Thanks for working on it.

[16:51] >> Yeah.

[16:52] And uh right now there's also um

[16:55] paving projects going on out at the

[16:56] airport. I don't know if you've been out

[16:57] there. There's they're redoing all the

[16:59] aprons and we have the grants money for that F- FAA grant, so there's lots

[17:05] of construction going on on the runways

[17:07] and the aprons.

[17:10] So that that's that's amazing how how

[17:12] they have to like the the regular the

[17:15] isn't enough, you know, when you think

[17:16] about the lining of planes and and the

[17:20] specifications that that pavement has to

[17:22] have that pavement has to have for those

[17:24] landings.

[17:25] >> Yeah.

[17:27] >> That's all.

[17:27] >> Thank you.

[17:28] Um

[17:30] Alyssa.

[17:31] You're up next.

[17:32] >> Most of my stuff is the RCG reporting

[17:35] stuff, so I'll just hold until we get to

[17:38] the other spot.

[17:40] >> Sounds good.

[17:40] >> The other thing that I did want to want

[17:43] to address just about that office space

[17:45] and some of the things that we've been

[17:47] working on with Sarah Barstow

[17:50] is the SBDC

[17:52] role.

[17:53] So,

[17:55] uh in terms of the funding, so what

[17:57] happened with the SBDC stuff

[17:59] is that Grand County had uh

[18:03] prepaid for 4 years, I want to say,

[18:05] until 2026

[18:07] of an SBDC role that was dedicated to

[18:09] Grand County instead of the regional

[18:11] representative to represent everyone.

[18:15] And at the end of 2026, that was

[18:18] supposed to expire.

[18:20] In the meantime, during the audit of the

[18:22] TRT

[18:24] revenues that was happening with the

[18:26] state auditor,

[18:28] they basically flagged that and a couple

[18:30] of other things and had said that that

[18:32] was economic diversification funds

[18:35] that were supposed to be spent down by

[18:37] the sunset date, which was June 30th.

[18:41] >> Yeah.

[18:42] >> And we wrote the check on June 30th to

[18:44] make sure that we were able to prepay

[18:46] those here.

[18:46] >> Yeah.

[18:47] >> And so, it was specifically flagged in

[18:49] the audit and they had Grand County

[18:51] restate our financials

[18:53] to be able to incorporate that out to

[18:55] 2026.

[18:57] They still weren't able to spend down

[18:59] the funds by the end of 2026, so SBDC

[19:03] from Carbon County asked for an

[19:06] extension to that. The problem is is

[19:08] that if the county gave an extension, we

[19:10] would have to reopen all of the

[19:12] financials and restate those again and

[19:14] reopen that audit

[19:16] because then you're not only just

[19:18] prepaying for services to avoid

[19:21] the audit flags, you're then extending

[19:24] it and saying, "Yeah, we did prepay and

[19:26] now we're going to have to ask for

[19:27] additional time."

[19:29] So, we had notified SBDC

[19:33] that we wouldn't be able to extend that

[19:35] contract, that we would have to take a

[19:37] different approach.

[19:38] And I guess in the meantime,

[19:41] they made decisions about reshuffling

[19:43] with Todd.

[19:45] GOED has supported and put a lot of

[19:48] backing behind Sarah with the small

[19:51] business the Sorry, with the women's

[19:53] business center to make sure that we can

[19:55] service

[19:56] uh small businesses and give them all of

[19:58] those consulting services,

[20:00] but Sarah doesn't really have any office

[20:02] space. So, the county has arranged for

[20:04] her to have office space so that she can

[20:06] have office hours.

[20:08] So, we've worked that out with her and

[20:10] then I think that GOED is working with

[20:13] SBDC to try to find No, with USU

[20:17] to try to find regional services, I

[20:20] think maybe to serve Grand County.

[20:22] So, I just wanted to make sure that

[20:24] everyone knew that in the interim

[20:26] business services, Sarah will try to

[20:29] accommodate those with her schedule and

[20:31] we're going to try to get that messaging

[20:32] out and she's got office space available

[20:36] at the Grand Center so that she can

[20:38] serve those clients.

[20:40] >> And the idea is that she'll be servicing

[20:42] all of the

[20:44] small businesses in the

[20:46] >> Not just women.

[20:47] >> Right.

[20:48] >> The The challenge right now is that and

[20:50] I didn't realize this about Sarah

[20:51] either, but she is serving all of Utah

[20:55] or is it only Salt Lake and this region?

[20:59] >> I

[21:00] >> to say that Grand County are not her

[21:02] only clients.

[21:03] >> No, it's like all Eastern Utah is what I

[21:05] was thinking.

[21:07] A large region of the state.

[21:10] >> Yeah.

[21:11] >> So

[21:11] >> Okay.

[21:12] >> to be able to meet with clients here in

[21:14] person. She just felt like it would be

[21:16] really helpful to have office space. So

[21:19] >> So does that mean that

[21:22] like what happens to that money? We just

[21:25] like it goes gets pushed over to TRT or

[21:29] >> Yeah. So it was

[21:30] >> It's a revolving loan fund as well, I

[21:31] got told it going to. No?

[21:34] >> It's with the auditor. Oh, so Com Natman

[21:37] is working that out with them. But

[21:38] basically what they said was they were

[21:41] TRT funds.

[21:43] >> Under right. Yeah. Yeah. They were TRT

[21:46] funds spent under the diversification

[21:47] program that existed at the time.

[21:50] But maybe not spent, I guess. Yeah. So

[21:53] they're Okay. So it sits with the

[21:54] auditor is the answer, I guess,

[21:55] basically.

[21:57] >> And as soon as

[21:59] they let us know, whatever is not going

[22:01] to open an audit is probably the best

[22:04] route.

[22:05] >> Yeah. Yeah.

[22:06] >> But

[22:08] >> Okay.

[22:11] » And it's my understanding from SBDC, and

[22:13] I don't know that this is the case, it's

[22:14] still like really murky,

[22:16] but it's my understanding from SBDC that

[22:18] they have funding to serve the region.

[22:21] So it shouldn't just be Sarah

[22:23] >> That's always been the case.

[22:24] >> trying to do it on their own.

[22:27] >> Yeah. So Todd does is not with SBDC

[22:29] anymore. Is that

[22:32] » I honestly, I have heard nothing from

[22:35] SBDC.

[22:36] So the only thing that we heard from

[22:38] SBDC is that

[22:41] they wanted the contract extension.

[22:45] As far as Todd goes, I don't know. Have

[22:48] you heard anything?

[22:49] >> Yeah. Um I saw him

[22:53] soon after he was notified and

[22:55] I believe his last day will be the 30th

[22:57] of this month.

[22:58] >> So they are not keeping him as the

[23:00] regional.

[23:02] Do you how they're planning to serve the

[23:04] region? He has been. I didn't realize

[23:06] that.

[23:06] >> Oh, really?

[23:07] >> I thought he was Grand County dedicated,

[23:09] but he's been doing San Juan County,

[23:12] he's been doing Grand County,

[23:15] and then I'm not sure if he's been doing

[23:17] any other county. It may just be San

[23:19] Juan again.

[23:21] Do you know?

[23:22] >> Uh he was

[23:23] primarily Grand County and then I think

[23:25] he was also

[23:27] um covers San Juan County.

[23:31] >> Did he say what their plan was for

[23:32] covering the region if they weren't

[23:34] going to have him?

[23:36] >> Um

[23:37] No, I just know um Colette Cox, the

[23:40] director of the Center for World

[23:41] Development, has been in on a lot of

[23:43] conversations with USU and the SBDC

[23:46] about how to properly

[23:48] make sure everybody's covered because

[23:50] the Vernal, the Basin SBDC director just

[23:53] retired as well, so that position is

[23:55] open.

[23:57] Um and so and

[23:59] um they stated that they weren't filling

[24:01] refilling that position either in the

[24:03] Basin. So obviously it's a much wider

[24:05] conversation than just Moab and um

[24:09] Colette, my boss, has been taking a

[24:11] really active role in those. I think

[24:13] right now everybody has spoken their

[24:16] good word and has they've collected all

[24:18] the information and what the outcome is

[24:20] going to be is I'm unaware right now, so

[24:23] I'll definitely report back, but

[24:25] >> Yeah, I just think it's important for us

[24:26] to try to have a sense of how we're

[24:28] covered basically. So

[24:29] >> Yeah. Yeah.

[24:30] >> it was always the that was like the

[24:31] challenge that we were trying to address

[24:32] back then.

[24:33] >> Absolutely.

[24:33] >> Which was probably not the right way to

[24:35] address it in some ways was putting our

[24:36] own money on the table to deal with the

[24:38] problem, but

[24:40] >> we've just like historically

[24:42] not been served by the SBDC and that's

[24:45] like a real bummer for our local

[24:47] businesses that need that type of

[24:48] support, so we want to try to

[24:50] >> I agree. Yeah.

[24:51] >> we can to be the squeaky wheel and get

[24:53] some services here.

[24:54] >> Yeah.

[24:55] >> Um but so the SBDC still is getting

[24:58] state funding for that type of work. I

[25:00] know that there was the audit and all

[25:01] that stuff. Yeah.

[25:02] >> Yeah, I mean, yeah, the funding has all

[25:04] stayed the same. Yeah.

[25:05] >> Okay.

[25:06] >> Yeah. Just the money from Grant County

[25:07] that was given

[25:08] >> the additional, the supplemental.

[25:10] >> Yeah.

[25:11] So, we don't know what they're do what

[25:12] they're doing. We just know that we

[25:14] couldn't continue to

[25:15] >> Yeah. No, I get that.

[25:16] >> We couldn't extend the contract even

[25:18] more. So, this is always outside of the

[25:19] funding

[25:20] >> Yeah.

[25:21] No, I think it's just on us then to

[25:22] really make sure that we get the regular

[25:25] services that we're still doing.

[25:26] >> And Sarah does do all of those. She's

[25:28] not just, um, for women only, even

[25:31] though it's called women, but anytime

[25:32] she presents, she says, you know, I'm

[25:33] here for everybody, but I know it's also

[25:35] the stigma there could be like, I don't

[25:36] want to go to a women's business, but it

[25:39] they there's no preferential treatment

[25:41] between The only thing that you get as a

[25:43] woman business owner versus a man's is

[25:45] you get to be on that that website.

[25:46] Like, if you search for women

[25:48] businesses, it'll pop up. Other than

[25:49] that, the services are the same that she

[25:51] gives to all all small businesses.

[25:54] >> That's great.

[25:54] >> So, but it just it is hard because it does say women's

[25:58] business center.

[26:00] >> No, but that's awesome. I mean, I think

[26:01] that's awesome that we have someone I

[26:03] mean, we're lucky that we have someone

[26:04] locally that can help offer those

[26:06] services. I just hope that that doesn't

[26:07] mean that we then receive nothing from

[26:09] the SBDC who are also doing that.

[26:11] >> Yeah, that won't be the case. Yeah. That

[26:13] won't be the case.

[26:14] >> Cool.

[26:16] >> And that's one thing in talking to

[26:17] Sarah, too,

[26:19] is

[26:21] she's going to look at her schedule and

[26:22] set kind of office hours when she's

[26:24] available to businesses, but we really

[26:26] want to push out the communication of

[26:28] what services that she offers and when

[26:30] she's available.

[26:31] And she has been great. And then, one of

[26:33] the things that we're doing with the

[26:35] office space is we're setting it up in

[26:37] such a way that she can use that as

[26:39] anchor and matching funds to get

[26:41] additional resources.

[26:43] So, that hopefully, you know, we can

[26:45] double down and give her the help and

[26:46] the support that she needs to be able to

[26:47] expand her capacity in the meantime.

[26:50] But,

[26:52] fingers crossed.

[26:53] >> Yeah, that's great.

[26:54] >> Awesome.

[26:55] Okay,

[26:57] should we then put everything else to

[26:58] the next conversation with RCG?

[27:01] Which would then have you up Deborah?

[27:03] And one thing we'd love to hear any

[27:05] updates you have and we all received

[27:07] [clears throat] an email from James

[27:08] Dixon and we want to

[27:10] >> [cough]

[27:11] >> hear from you as to what that means for

[27:13] us in Grand County.

[27:14] >> Okay, wonderful.

[27:15] >> [laughter]

[27:15] >> I have it on my list.

[27:16] >> Thank you.

[27:17] >> Um how much time do I have Chris?

[27:19] >> Uh as little as possible to do as great

[27:21] of a job as possible.

[27:22] >> [laughter]

[27:24] >> Okay, so

[27:25] I have about five websites I'm going to

[27:28] share with you and we can send the links

[27:31] out later.

[27:32] Just kind of some updates. We're no

[27:34] longer Go Utah

[27:36] we're back to Go Ed, Governor's Office

[27:38] of Economic Development. Um but I still

[27:42] have been saying Go Utah. So if you

[27:45] just forgive me. When I was hired it was

[27:47] Go Utah.

[27:48] >> [laughter]

[27:49] >> So we have new branding coming out.

[27:53] You'll see all the new logos throughout

[27:54] state all the state agencies are getting

[27:56] rebranded so you'll see kind of the new

[27:58] logo and stuff. It's pretty cool.

[28:01] So with that said

[28:04] Melissa attended an event a few weeks

[28:06] ago to represent Grand County at the

[28:09] unveiling of the Governor's

[28:12] Economic Development Utah Elevated Plan.

[28:16] >> [clears throat]

[28:17] >> So I'm going to show you on our it's

[28:18] located on our website.

[28:22] One second.

[28:25] I'm disabled to share.

[28:26] >> Oh yeah, we need to

[28:27] >> Hang tight.

[28:29] >> Share settings.

[28:32] >> I can't even see.

[28:36] I can't read that far.

[28:42] Window share from an application share

[28:44] all no.

[28:46] >> I think it's the red box at the bottom.

[29:01] » Okay, so I'll I'll keep talking. So,

[29:03] that's located on our website. If you

[29:05] want to take a look at it and read over

[29:07] it, might give you give you some ideas

[29:08] or get your mind thinking economic

[29:10] development in the state of Utah.

[29:13] Um it obviously shares the government

[29:15] priorities, things like that. It is 50

[29:17] pages, so

[29:19] >> [laughter]

[29:20] >> you know, light read for everybody. Um

[29:22] but you can peruse the website and it

[29:24] explains a little bit more about the

[29:26] focus for economic development for at

[29:28] the state level.

[29:30] Okay. So, that's the first link we'll be

[29:33] sending out.

[29:35] Um something else I want to share is

[29:38] housing has moved to Go-ED. And so,

[29:42] originally housing used to live in the in the Department of Workforce

[29:49] Services, but under housing and

[29:53] community services, something like that.

[29:55] So, anyways, it's moved to Go-ED. It's

[29:57] obviously fresh, so um we're still

[30:00] working on everything, but I've included

[30:02] the new

[30:04] um website for all things housing in

[30:08] there.

[30:10] So,

[30:15] » Where do you sit?

[30:17] >> What's the arrow next to share? If you

[30:19] hit that one, does it give you that?

[30:20] >> That's where we had that screen up just

[30:22] a second ago. It wasn't

[30:24] >> So, included in that housing, there's a

[30:26] new um housing dashboard throughout the

[30:29] state that ex- that shows all different

[30:33] types of data. I'm going to include that

[30:34] for you all as well to look

[30:37] at.

[30:38] Um opportunity zones. Melissa, would you

[30:42] like to talk about opportunity zones?

[30:45] >> No, I'll start and then you go.

[30:46] >> Go ahead and if you need me to fill

[30:48] anything in,

[30:49] >> [laughter]

[30:49] >> I'm all about it.

[30:50] >> So, if you're unfamiliar with

[30:52] opportunity zones, um they're redrawing

[30:55] them this year, opportunity zones 2.0.

[30:59] Um they are a sort of a federal tool for

[31:03] investors investing in specific areas to

[31:06] get um incentives and perks. It's kind

[31:10] of the best way to put it, I think. Um

[31:13] it is to help development in a very

[31:15] specific area. So, this year Moab

[31:21] the Moab area was designated as a

[31:23] potential opportunity zone based off of

[31:28] data criteria, a very specific formula

[31:30] created by HUD. And so, 147

[31:34] different census tracts throughout the

[31:36] state were identified as potential

[31:40] opportunity zones and the governor will

[31:42] be picking 37 of them. So, you can see

[31:46] that kind of, you know, gives you a

[31:48] little bit of a difficult shot. However,

[31:52] the governor's office of economic

[31:53] development is compiling all the data to

[31:55] kind of present to the governor to help

[31:58] him make the best informed decision

[32:00] possible and different communities were

[32:03] able to submit surveys as to why they

[32:05] felt that their communities

[32:09] as to why they felt that their

[32:10] communities should be selected

[32:13] and

[32:15] I believe Moab and Grand County area

[32:18] submitted some information, not that

[32:21] we're competitive.

[32:22] >> [laughter]

[32:23] >> And so, just know that, you know, you

[32:26] obviously have a great team that's

[32:27] fighting for the designation of the

[32:30] opportunity zone.

[32:32] And I will share that website real

[32:35] quick.

[32:37] Or that's how and scroll through it real

[32:39] quick so you can kind of see.

[32:43] In working with the economist, too, it's

[32:46] interesting because things like of the

[32:49] four categories to compete, one of them

[32:52] was how closely you align with the

[32:53] Olympics.

[32:54] >> Mhm.

[32:55] >> And how much you're part of the Olympic

[32:56] strategy.

[32:57] >> Interesting.

[32:59] >> So you can see the um designation right

[33:02] there.

[33:04] And then there's more information about

[33:05] opportunity zones if you want to learn

[33:07] about that, the timeline, um everything

[33:10] how they were selected as an opportunity

[33:13] zone,

[33:14] everything like that. So, more

[33:16] interesting things to learn about.

[33:20] Um

[33:23] also we updated our grants page on our

[33:27] website. You can see here, since you all

[33:30] work so closely with our grants, this

[33:33] might be something you're interested in.

[33:36] Um we have a new grants calendar on here

[33:38] that shows all of the deadlines for

[33:40] reporting, which you're obviously very

[33:41] involved in, um application periods,

[33:44] things like that. And then all of the

[33:47] information about our grants. So, for

[33:50] instance, um

[33:52] the rural county grant,

[33:57] there's all these additional

[33:59] downloads here. I also brought some of

[34:01] them

[34:02] because I had them in my office and

[34:04] thought, "Why not?"

[34:07] Um but then there's additional grants

[34:10] that we've added on our website, so all

[34:12] of the housing grants,

[34:14] um

[34:15] and then the tourism grants, and then

[34:17] some other funding opportunities.

[34:21] And then all of our partner agencies as

[34:23] well. So, a lot of this information

[34:24] wasn't on here previously. Just want to

[34:26] let you know that's updated.

[34:30] And other than that, I will

[34:36] answer your questions about the memo.

[34:38] Is that the best approach?

[34:40] >> Sure. I can start.

[34:41] >> Yeah.

[34:42] >> Uh

[34:42] was [clears throat] uh

[34:44] was the

[34:46] To what extent

[34:48] is Grant County

[34:50] the audience of that memo? The singular

[34:52] audience or was it only written to us?

[34:54] >> No. No. It was sent to every elected

[34:57] official, CEO board, and economic

[35:00] development director in the rural

[35:02] counties.

[35:03] >> And

[35:04] >> It was not directed at you.

[35:05] >> Okay.

[35:06] And so, to what extent, as far as

[35:09] you know, some of our activities, and

[35:11] especially with respect to our 2026

[35:15] grant cycle for our CG,

[35:18] which is [clears throat] funding

[35:19] which has funded a contractor related to

[35:22] the airport project,

[35:24] funding staff

[35:26] >> Right.

[35:27] >> At least that's To what extent are we

[35:28] impacted by it? What's your sense of

[35:30] that? I mean, is it just as much I mean,

[35:34] I As I think about those things, those

[35:36] are all related to projects. Um but I

[35:39] don't know to what extent it's Yeah.

[35:41] >> Absolutely. So, I think kind of some

[35:44] backstory of where this memo came from

[35:46] is there have been um specific

[35:49] incidences with our counties where

[35:52] um contractors were being paid for

[35:54] specific projects, and we weren't seeing

[35:57] the details or the ROI or the result of

[36:01] that contractor being hired. And so, you

[36:04] know, it really comes back to us like,

[36:07] "Oh, well, where is that funding going?"

[36:08] And if we're not able to really say, um

[36:12] so, we saw a need for strict reporting,

[36:15] essentially. And that's really all it

[36:17] is, right? Like, you're absolutely still

[36:19] able to pay for staffing, pay for

[36:22] contractors. We just want to know

[36:24] exactly what they're doing, what the

[36:26] outcome is, what the ROI is, what the

[36:28] actual funds are going towards.

[36:31] Um, you know, because some contractors

[36:33] will get three or four counties, you

[36:36] know, to give them a certain percentage

[36:37] of their grant funds. And obviously

[36:40] that's a lot of money and we weren't

[36:41] really seeing the outcome from those

[36:43] funds. So, that's really where it came

[36:46] from.

[36:47] Um,

[36:48] I don't think that it really affects

[36:49] anything that we have going on. All, you

[36:51] know, for instance, the airport

[36:53] contractor.

[36:54] >> Yeah.

[36:55] >> Melissa has all the information that's

[36:56] very detailed as to their scope of work,

[36:59] what they're doing, what the funding

[37:00] went. So, it's very easy for her to just

[37:03] be like, here. This is what Yeah,

[37:05] exactly. Um, we just want to make sure

[37:08] that it's not sketchy [clears throat]

[37:10] business going on. And so, it's really

[37:12] kind of to cover everybody's

[37:15] um,

[37:15] >> And is there like a form?

[37:18] I mean, it feels like that you

[37:20] there's a lot of interpretation when you go to write one of those grant

[37:24] reports and they ask these questions.

[37:26] >> Yeah. They're a little up in the air.

[37:28] Yeah. Yeah, and um,

[37:31] when the reporting that Melissa has,

[37:34] that's definitely

[37:36] >> Right.

[37:36] >> a guideline. But, within the memo it

[37:39] shows ex-

[37:40] specifically what you need as scope of

[37:42] work, you know? And that obviously looks

[37:45] different for everybody. And if

[37:47] compliance feels that Melissa or you

[37:49] guys didn't provide enough information,

[37:51] we would ask for that in addition. But,

[37:53] I think it is left open for

[37:55] interpretation a little bit so that

[37:58] you know, everybody's different in how

[38:00] they provide that information and how

[38:01] you obtain it. Um,

[38:04] >> Yeah, but it's just

[38:05] >> not to pigeonhole, I feel like.

[38:07] >> I I get the tension between us you think

[38:09] there's kind of like if you say,

[38:11] well, applicable scope of work, you

[38:13] know,

[38:13] >> Yeah.

[38:14] >> is there. But, anyway, so we should keep

[38:16] a hold of that memo for the next years

[38:18] because we're going to be needing to

[38:21] >> Yeah, and there's actual like

[38:23] administrative ruling

[38:25] documents like this. You know, like our

[38:27] state statute. We have administrative

[38:30] ruling that I'm happy to share that kind

[38:32] of shows on our end what we're required

[38:35] to provide in our help.

[38:37] >> Yeah, I don't know.

[38:38] >> But you know, we really try to be

[38:41] It's because some counties and you know,

[38:43] their recorders doing it or like for the

[38:45] RCOG for cities that apply for that,

[38:47] it's like a treasurer. Like we try to

[38:50] really be accommodating to rural

[38:53] who might not have the resources or

[38:55] bandwidth or know-how.

[38:57] >> Sure, but I mean I don't know. Just

[38:59] having a form that says these are the

[39:01] things you should be addressing would

[39:02] save some time cuz you're kind of like

[39:04] you write some stuff and you're like, am

[39:05] I good? I'm not sure, you know? And then

[39:07] you wait for the message like, no, you

[39:09] need more information. And then it's a

[39:11] takes management time on your

[39:12] >> Well, that's great feedback that I will

[39:14] send to James Dick. You know, this is a

[39:16] new obviously a brand new thing

[39:19] um that we're

[39:19] >> have to be required. It could say

[39:21] suggested, you know? And then you would

[39:23] at least be in the ballpark.

[39:24] >> Yeah. Cuz I know So you think that would

[39:26] be helpful in the application or in the

[39:28] report?

[39:29] >> Both because because if you're going to

[39:31] do the application, you should be aware

[39:33] of the reporting requirements from the

[39:35] beginning.

[39:36] Because then you know

[39:38] exactly what you need to be tracking and

[39:40] you aren't going backwards.

[39:42] Okay.

[39:43] >> And maybe James is already planning on

[39:44] that.

[39:45] >> Maybe so. I mean I get it that you want

[39:46] to be flexible, but but I think that

[39:48] you're actually supporting the grantee

[39:51] by making it a little straightforward

[39:53] and just saying, here's the kind of

[39:55] stuff you should be tracking while

[39:56] you're doing this project. And that way

[39:58] if you're like, oh, we're not going to

[39:59] have any of that data, you kind of are

[40:00] like, maybe this grant isn't right for

[40:02] us, you know?

[40:03] >> Yeah, I agree with that. Yeah.

[40:05] Good idea, Ashley.

[40:07] >> I

[40:08] I'm just trying to make it faster for

[40:09] everyone. Um what when is the governor

[40:12] make the decisions about the

[40:13] opportunities?

[40:13] >> September.

[40:15] >> And does it retroactively apply or it's

[40:17] only for new investments? Like if you

[40:19] >> New.

[40:19] >> Okay, interesting. All right, September.

[40:22] Okay, thanks.

[40:22] >> September.

[40:23] >> But usually those things are by tax

[40:24] year, right?

[40:25] >> Right.

[40:25] >> The incentives are how it works.

[40:27] >> Yeah, but there was a 1.0 I don't know

[40:29] the exact dates between the 1.0

[40:31] >> So

[40:31] >> and the 2.0.

[40:32] >> So that's going to be for the following

[40:33] year.

[40:34] >> Yes.

[40:35] >> Cuz that's what they I was just looking

[40:36] at the maps like cuz we were in

[40:38] opportunity zones or our opportunity

[40:40] zones. But that's the last round and

[40:42] this is a 2.0 new program exactly. So it

[40:45] looks but it's they're calling it the

[40:46] 2027 program.

[40:47] >> So that would mean that any investments

[40:49] done in 2026 would not

[40:51] >> Probably don't fall under that.

[40:52] But most likely. I mean, I don't know.

[40:55] >> It's super super competitive under the

[40:58] new IRS ruling

[41:01] because they've cut back the fraction of

[41:05] the opportunity zones in every state. So

[41:07] the state of Utah I think only retains

[41:09] 20% of its capability to provide

[41:12] opportunity zones, which is what made it

[41:14] a competitive process now instead of the

[41:17] tract grant. So just the whole way that

[41:20] they are doing it is completely

[41:22] different.

[41:22] >> The governor should have appointed an

[41:24] anonymous committee, just saying.

[41:28] >> To decide on his behalf?

[41:32] » Okay.

[41:33] Um

[41:33] anything else from your side, Deborah?

[41:36] >> Nothing else from my side. I'm sending

[41:38] out all those links for all that extra

[41:40] reading material. And I do have the

[41:43] state statute if you want to look at it,

[41:45] rural county grant, and then the actual

[41:47] state statute for this board.

[41:51] Great for your taking.

[41:53] >> Thank you.

[41:54] >> Yep.

[41:54] >> Super helpful.

[41:55] Um

[41:57] Okay, so now let's move on to this So

[42:01] 2026 RCG reporting,

[42:04] um which is officially due at the end of

[42:08] July, I think. But the sooner we get it

[42:10] in, the sooner we can be moving on.

[42:13] Current year funding. Um

[42:16] So, Melissa gave us a bunch of documents

[42:19] and I'll pass it over to Melissa to talk

[42:21] a little bit about where we're at and

[42:23] what you need from us. I mean, this is

[42:24] one of our sort of like statutory

[42:28] uh responsibilities as a board is to be

[42:30] participate in the reporting.

[42:34] >> Okay. So, reporting.

[42:36] Could you share the link that I sent you

[42:39] to the

[42:41] documents file?

[42:44] Basically, so when you talk about the

[42:46] reporting requirements, making sure that

[42:47] we're following the reporting

[42:48] requirements, whatever, there's just not

[42:50] a lot of guidance.

[42:52] So, we completely created a whole new

[42:55] system

[42:56] >> You want this separate as a spreadsheet?

[42:58] >> Yeah. Yeah, if that's okay.

[43:01] >> It is.

[43:02] >> So, we just created our own process and

[43:05] our own set of documentation. This was

[43:07] the first year using it. I would be

[43:09] really curious and would love to follow

[43:11] up with grantees to see what their

[43:13] experience was, if they felt like it was

[43:15] too time-consuming, if they felt like it

[43:17] was too difficult because this was the

[43:20] first year that we've really used it.

[43:22] But essentially, I wanted to create

[43:24] something that it doesn't matter who's

[43:25] responsible for doing that reporting.

[43:27] They've got a system now that they can

[43:28] follow, make their own edit change, but

[43:31] at least there's a place to start.

[43:33] And it started with making sure that we

[43:35] have everyone's scope documents,

[43:38] original budget requirements,

[43:40] any terms that they had in their

[43:42] contracts, links to their contracts so

[43:44] that we can reference those at any time.

[43:46] And then a status. And if you go,

[43:49] Deborah, to the submission documents,

[43:54] we also created This was the very first

[43:57] year that we did this as a reimbursement

[43:58] program and not as just a grant program,

[44:02] which was really uh hit or miss success

[44:05] lesson, get that to you really

[44:07] >> Well, they're on.

[44:08] You sent them to us individually, too.

[44:10] So,

[44:11] >> And they're also on the agenda as

[44:14] individual items.

[44:14] >> Perfect. Okay. Yeah, reimbursement request form and the

[44:18] advanced funds request form, right?

[44:20] >> So, basically, we had everyone do

[44:23] requests. They did all of the

[44:25] documentation, and then they received

[44:27] payments. The first one was like maybe 3

[44:30] weeks into the process that we paid out

[44:32] and processed.

[44:34] The last one, which is the only grant

[44:37] that hasn't been completely paid out and

[44:39] won't be,

[44:41] is going to be listed in the reporting

[44:42] spreadsheet as encumbered funds, and

[44:44] that will be the golf course.

[44:46] So, if you want to go to the final

[44:47] reporting document for the final

[44:49] reporting document,

[44:52] the

[44:52] >> Yes.

[44:53] >> That will give the status of all of

[44:56] them.

[45:03] This one?

[45:07] Am I right? This one?

[45:08] >> Yes.

[45:08] >> Okay.

[45:09] And I'll look at my own.

[45:12] Cuz I'm not going to be able to see it

[45:13] up there.

[45:17] So, on the final reporting, you can see

[45:21] what has been paid out, what has been

[45:23] encumbered,

[45:25] and then

[45:27] what we're proposing that we would use

[45:29] for the rest of the funds

[45:32] that haven't been encumbered.

[45:35] And there's nothing remaining that

[45:37] hasn't been left unused. So, Artesian,

[45:41] multi-no, wait. Multi- Artesian Moab

[45:44] Brewery, Moab Area Chamber of Commerce,

[45:47] Rock Tots, and Jaspers will all be paid

[45:50] out during the reporting period.

[45:53] We will go over on the Moab Golf Club

[45:56] because we want to retain that final

[45:57] payment until their study has been

[46:00] received. So, we've already paid out the

[46:03] retainer for that and then another

[46:05] payment for travel and other services.

[46:07] So, now we're just waiting to get their

[46:09] final

[46:11] invoice when the work is completed.

[46:14] And then

[46:16] we received for multi-mini mount $12,600

[46:20] as a payment request. So, that has gone

[46:23] out.

[46:25] And then that leaves $17,386

[46:28] remaining.

[46:29] And then we've just detailed what we're

[46:31] proposing that we would use those funds

[46:34] for.

[46:37] So, I don't know like if we just want to

[46:39] go through questions or talk about it or

[46:41] you want specific the the specific

[46:44] reporting is in the packet.

[46:47] To the extent that we have it. The one

[46:50] thing that I can speak to with

[46:51] confidence is we haven't yet received

[46:53] every last narrative for final report.

[46:56] We've received four-ish, I think.

[46:59] But the one thing that we are confident

[47:00] about is that we've received all of the

[47:02] receipts, all of the invoices, all of

[47:04] the financial documentation

[47:07] that aligns with original budgets and

[47:10] aligns with the contracts.

[47:14] » I mean, first of all, thank you for

[47:16] this. Like, this is the first like true

[47:19] full accounting that I've seen for the

[47:22] money that we've spent in this way. I

[47:24] mean, not that other previous years

[47:26] haven't been accounted for in some way,

[47:27] but like in detail what's happened to

[47:30] with the dollar. That's awesome and

[47:32] really important for us. So, thank you

[47:34] for that.

[47:37] Um

[47:38] >> And it makes it a lot easier. I mean,

[47:39] currently, you know, we're still chasing

[47:41] down some of the reporting from the

[47:43] sub-grants, you know, and it's I mean,

[47:44] it was on our and it's not fun. It's so

[47:47] This is really nice and it's nice for

[47:49] all of us to

[47:51] know where the money's going and that

[47:52] it's effective. Even though I mean,

[47:55] we may or may not do sub-grants again. I

[47:57] mean, I last year it let's do this and it might be this year we're not,

[48:01] next year

[48:03] something else. I mean, we've got some

[48:04] big plans in the county that we can roll

[48:05] a bunch of stuff into, but I think it's

[48:07] a it's awesome to have it. And I I have

[48:09] it saved and Kam out of it has it and

[48:11] it's not going to go away with like us

[48:13] going away, so it's it's a process

[48:15] that's been completed and it's

[48:19] um

[48:19] we can we can tweak it, change it, keep

[48:22] it the same or whatever in the future.

[48:25] You know what I mean?

[48:26] A lot of work that we won't have to.

[48:30] » I mean, the other thing that comes up

[48:32] for me is the

[48:34] I mean, I and I guess this is is maybe

[48:36] what will happen if you when you have a

[48:39] reimbursement style program is that

[48:41] you're likely to come up with a slightly

[48:43] different number at the end than what

[48:45] was you know, projected at the

[48:47] beginning. And that's what that 17,000

[48:49] 386 is related to, right? Um

[48:54] So

[48:55] Yeah, so obviously that wasn't a part of

[48:58] an original request or an action by the

[49:01] commission

[49:02] or an application to the the state. So,

[49:05] what do we need to do

[49:08] at at I guess multiple levels in order

[49:11] to have that be

[49:14] kosher, to have that be squared away.

[49:16] Like, I mean, it it makes sense that if

[49:18] you have remaining funds, I mean, to me

[49:20] it seems reasonable to use those

[49:23] internally if there's a need. Um

[49:25] but like, what's the process? What needs

[49:27] to happen there?

[49:29] >> I don't know.

[49:30] >> I think as long as it's still associated

[49:32] with the grant

[49:34] proc- or the or the sub grant program,

[49:36] sub grant project, there's no need for

[49:40] it to go back to the commission. It's

[49:41] still basically the same project.

[49:45] >> But just the overall

[49:46] >> the sub grant Yeah, yeah.

[49:48] >> Okay.

[49:48] >> So, I think if it was something like

[49:50] super drastically different, then that

[49:52] could be a conversation, but I don't see

[49:54] it being an issue. I wouldn't advise

[49:56] that it go back to the commission.

[49:58] >> Okay.

[49:58] >> Why would it? I don't think unless it's

[50:00] a new

[50:01] >> If it was like if you we did what we

[50:03] said we were going to do.

[50:03] >> Right. But if you know

[50:05] >> And now we're going to do something

[50:06] else, too.

[50:07] >> Yeah.

[50:08] >> Oh, yeah, what are we doing now?

[50:10] >> Well, that's what Yeah.

[50:12] >> I can't really see it.

[50:13] >> Uh it says

[50:14] >> Let me zoom in.

[50:14] >> Software conference and tools for

[50:16] economic development capacity building

[50:17] of new I mean, it's basically the

[50:19] proposal is to use it within the

[50:21] economic development office.

[50:23] Cuz it it's remaining funds being used

[50:26] by the office for economic development

[50:28] activities.

[50:29] >> asked us to do that, so it's sort of

[50:31] circular.

[50:32] >> I think so, too. I think if it was like

[50:34] something completely different, like you

[50:36] were going to give it

[50:38] I don't

[50:40] You were going to do something at the

[50:41] Spanish Trail Arena, maybe. Then you

[50:43] >> Well, check Well, last year we wanted to

[50:45] keep some of that money, but right as we

[50:46] had to have advertised it and had so

[50:48] many applicants. Remember, I was like

[50:50] >> Yeah.

[50:50] >> we should just subgrant it all out. So,

[50:52] I think it's it's cuz it's you know

[50:54] >> It's still the same project, yeah.

[50:58] » Yeah.

[51:00] Um

[51:02] And so

[51:05] what do you I mean

[51:10] Are we ready

[51:12] to I think I think we're supposed to

[51:14] take a vote. Like we're supposed to take

[51:16] some action as the EOB

[51:19] to approve the reporting?

[51:22] Do we feel ready to take that

[51:24] action?

[51:25] >> That's That's up to this board, whatever

[51:28] you felt comfortable with.

[51:30] >> Yeah.

[51:30] >> I wanted to make sure that you were

[51:32] equipped with all of the detailed

[51:33] information, so that you felt like you

[51:35] could when you were ready make a

[51:36] decision.

[51:38] >> Well, so just to clarify, all of the

[51:40] grantees have gotten their money.

[51:42] It's and and all have done their

[51:45] reporting except

[51:47] the golf course.

[51:49] >> All have done the financial reporting.

[51:51] Most have done the narrative, which I'm

[51:53] less edgy about because they submitted

[51:56] all of their receipts and they've been

[51:57] paid out. The golf course, we put in the

[52:01] report that probably they'll be paid out

[52:03] in August when they receive their final

[52:06] report. But we already know how much it

[52:09] is and we know how much we're paying. I

[52:11] just feel edgy about paying them before

[52:13] it's done.

[52:14] >> plan.

[52:15] >> Okay. Okay. If you guys are comfortable

[52:17] with holding those funds,

[52:19] that's my recommended option. If you're

[52:21] not, we can just pay it out.

[52:24] Like I don't expect at the last minute

[52:26] they're not going to finish the report

[52:28] and just bail.

[52:30] But it kind of feels nice to say we're

[52:32] going to keep them encumbered and we'll

[52:33] keep it in the bank account until August

[52:35] when they deliver that report. But

[52:37] they've flown out. We had great meetings

[52:40] with them. They met with the city.

[52:43] They've produced some decent work

[52:45] products so far. The only thing that the

[52:48] golf course hasn't received are like the

[52:49] final architectural plans and the final

[52:52] business plan. So I thought it would be

[52:54] nice for us to be able to hold those

[52:56] funds for just a minute until we get

[52:57] that in.

[52:58] >> That totally makes sense. Yeah. But so

[53:00] do you want a motion like I think for

[53:02] the purposes of this board, we're done

[53:04] with this and we need to move on. So if

[53:07] we do a motion now that says

[53:09] we approve uh

[53:11] what do you want what is the motion you

[53:13] want

[53:13] >> the reporting completed by Melissa.

[53:17] >> You've participated in the last two

[53:19] years.

[53:20] >> document and

[53:21] >> and any changes necessary to it to to

[53:26] um to include future narrative

[53:28] reporting. You know, we should just give her

[53:31] in advance our blessing on additional

[53:34] narrative reporting that would go in.

[53:37] Right? And then it'll be complete.

[53:38] >> Well, like we can be explicit in the

[53:39] motion. We approve it as is with the

[53:42] addition of the outstanding narratives

[53:45] from um

[53:47] >> You want to

[53:47] >> remaining grantees

[53:49] >> Make a motion. You've got it.

[53:50] >> Um

[53:51] we uh approve the

[53:56] distribution of funds and documentation

[54:03] report

[54:04] >> reporting

[54:04] >> and reporting

[54:06] um

[54:09] uh

[54:13] Let's see.

[54:15] How do you say that? Like um

[54:19] acknowledging that

[54:21] uh

[54:22] several narratives are still due and a

[54:25] final payment will be made to the golf

[54:27] course.

[54:30] How does that sound?

[54:34] So, then we're not just saying do

[54:36] whatever you want.

[54:38] We're saying

[54:39] finish this like you started it. Great

[54:41] job. The end. Move on.

[54:44] Put that.

[54:44] >> And when uh they come and present to the

[54:46] city, I'll make sure you all know. So,

[54:48] that if you'd like to

[54:49] come to the city and watch or

[54:52] >> Yeah. Yeah, they're going to come and

[54:53] present to the city council.

[54:55] So, the master plan that they have come

[54:57] up with. So, I I met with them. Didn't

[54:59] have done my reporting, but I met with

[55:01] them like three times and the mayor.

[55:03] And so, kind of got an idea of

[55:06] they had a good idea of like what would

[55:07] the city allow.

[55:08] >> they going to need to do the plan?

[55:10] >> Oh, man. That's going to be a lot of

[55:12] money. So, just the sprinkler system

[55:14] itself, you know, he's like on the low

[55:16] end $3 million. And that's the number

[55:18] one thing that needs to be done out

[55:19] there is the sprinkler systems. And so,

[55:21] but they have so much land. I mean,

[55:23] there's so much land that's the owned by

[55:25] the city that they could do a lot with

[55:26] it. And but it then it's like is the

[55:27] city even willing to do that? And that

[55:29] was my thing. I'm like that's the city

[55:31] has to ask that. But it seemed like they

[55:32] were willing. You know, housing out

[55:33] there. So, they could lease lease the

[55:35] land and put some housing out there. and

[55:37] that land lease would pay for for all of

[55:40] the things that it could happen out

[55:41] there. And then public-private

[55:43] partnerships where because the

[55:44] clubhouse, you know, is a big

[55:46] draw for people to get married. I mean,

[55:48] it's beautiful out there. So, if they

[55:49] could do a convention center out there

[55:51] and the clubhouse where you you still

[55:53] have golf happening, but then you have a

[55:55] convention center. But that would be So, it's basically a plan, but there

[55:59] wouldn't be it wouldn't be the city

[56:00] doing it all. It wouldn't be the golf

[56:01] club doing it all. It would be multiple

[56:03] different entities doing it, but they're

[56:05] going to come back with a plan. But I

[56:06] was kind of like, why do why are we even

[56:08] are we going to even do this plan if the

[56:10] city's not willing to be like, "Yeah,

[56:11] we're willing to put some land for lease so that we could

[56:15] help pay for this?" And it sounded like

[56:17] they would I mean, but I I you know,

[56:18] until they see the whole plan and they

[56:19] start making that. But But without a

[56:21] plan, you can't go anywhere. So, but it

[56:23] sounded really exciting. I mean, and of

[56:24] course, we need a way better. I just got

[56:26] through golfing the other day and

[56:27] there's so much wasted water. And

[56:28] they're they're going out in there and

[56:30] they're hitting the ground. I mean,

[56:31] they're just the the new sprinkler

[56:33] systems, I mean, they seem ridiculous,

[56:35] but they will only water exactly what

[56:37] they're supposed to, exactly the amount

[56:39] of water. Um they had some ideas of

[56:41] reconfiguring the golf course so that

[56:44] you squish those back the like whole um

[56:49] uh 10, 11, and 12 or 10

[56:52] >> I know what you mean.

[56:53] >> Yeah, the the side that's the closest to

[56:55] the four-way stop where the and and

[56:57] bring them in closer and that leaves a

[56:59] bigger area of land to lease out for to

[57:01] build on.

[57:02] >> And if they build out there, that all

[57:04] that money would go right back into

[57:05] could go back into the city or the golf

[57:07] course, you

[57:08] >> Yeah. The um I feel like San Juan County

[57:11] has a golf uh been to meetings that

[57:13] their golf club and it's very nice and

[57:15] they use it for events and it is a model

[57:17] that we could look at, but we'll see

[57:19] what this report says. But it's not

[57:20] really our problem. It's the port we pay

[57:22] for that. Okay, but we should get this

[57:23] motion on the

[57:24] >> So, Ashley, this is what I've got for

[57:25] you.

[57:26] Uh I move to approve the reporting and

[57:27] disbursement of RCG funds acknowledging

[57:29] that that narratives will be added to

[57:31] the reporting before being submitted and

[57:33] final and a final payment will be made

[57:35] to the golf course when the master plan

[57:37] is complete. Does that sound

[57:38] >> that sounds

[57:39] >> Does that work for you?

[57:40] Does anyone have a second?

[57:42] I'll second that motion.

[57:43] >> Second.

[57:44] >> Thank you.

[57:45] All right, so we have a motion and it's

[57:47] been seconded. Any discussion of the

[57:49] motion? This is just discussion of the

[57:51] motion to approve the reporting.

[57:53] >> Do we have to include this $17,000 in

[57:55] there?

[57:56] I'm just talking about the $17,000.

[57:58] >> Say that one more time.

[58:00] >> Like the leftover $17,000 that's just

[58:02] hanging out. Do we need to include that?

[58:05] >> Well, we spent it. We we gave it to the

[58:07] economic development office, so it's

[58:09] kind of taken care of. But you it was

[58:11] hanging out, but now it's committed.

[58:14] >> I think it's up to us as a board,

[58:17] um, whether we'd want to take action on

[58:19] that, make a recommendation on that,

[58:21] make a recommendation that it's used

[58:22] differently,

[58:24] whatever.

[58:25] Um, or it sounds like

[58:27] from the perspective of the state and

[58:30] the commission or at least our

[58:31] commission liaison, we could also choose

[58:33] to just do nothing on it and let it just

[58:35] happen the way it's happening right now.

[58:38] >> Well, in the motion, my intention was to

[58:41] accept the report as it is now, which

[58:43] has the $17,000 in there giving to the

[58:45] economic development authority. So, we'd

[58:47] have to start over on the motion if

[58:49] we're going to treat that $17,000

[58:51] differently, but I mean, we

[58:54] I don't know why we would

[58:56] um,

[58:57] I mean, the commission

[59:00] I I got the feeling they wanted us to

[59:02] use it for that and we didn't have

[59:04] something better to use it for, so it

[59:05] makes sense to just

[59:07] do it. Unless people want to

[59:10] I mean, it's not that much money.

[59:12] >> Yeah, what do you what do you think?

[59:13] >> Yeah. Oh, I was just asking.

[59:15] >> Yeah.

[59:16] >> Cuz I don't know, but it just I mean, it

[59:18] just kind of seems like

[59:20] when we were having the conversation

[59:23] earlier about

[59:25] you know, even thinking of the small

[59:26] business department and there was this

[59:29] leftover money that wasn't spent and

[59:31] things like that. So, just kind of

[59:33] months in the future coming back and

[59:35] saying, "Well, hey, there was this 17.

[59:38] What happened to it? Do we need to say

[59:41] explicitly this is what happened to it?"

[59:44] Cuz right now we're not doing that.

[59:46] >> I think we are.

[59:47] >> happened to it.

[59:48] >> we are.

[59:48] >> Unless we say something else, I think.

[59:50] >> Yeah.

[59:50] >> I think I mean

[59:51] You don't have to make a note of that. I

[59:53] don't know.

[59:53] >> I I mean, I can't really read it but I

[59:55] can't from here but I'm pretty sure that

[59:56] that's what that's what it says is we

[59:59] are giving it to the transfer

[1:00:01] transitioning post audit from the

[1:00:03] Dismantling Economic Development

[1:00:04] Department of Function. So, all of that

[1:00:06] is building That's what the commission

[1:00:09] wants to do with this money in to they

[1:00:12] want to use it to fund the economic

[1:00:13] development department. Which is

[1:00:15] staffing this committee. So, we might as

[1:00:18] well support that cuz we less work for

[1:00:20] us.

[1:00:21] >> Yeah, or else I mean, basically all the

[1:00:23] reporting that you just did on that of

[1:00:24] the hours report what that money's going

[1:00:26] into. Or else we would have been doing

[1:00:28] that Well, you guys would all been doing

[1:00:29] that as a board.

[1:00:30] >> Yeah, and we did a lot of that before

[1:00:33] and I think we're done with it. Like we

[1:00:34] when we were doing these grants, we had

[1:00:36] to read all the grants and track them

[1:00:38] and it was crazy and

[1:00:39] um Melissa was a volunteer at that point

[1:00:42] and she was running that system. So,

[1:00:45] it uh I feel like this is a good use of

[1:00:48] that funds for the for the moment. I

[1:00:50] mean,

[1:00:51] um

[1:00:53] and we should and I just really want to

[1:00:54] put this whole grant cycle behind us so

[1:00:56] that we can talk about the future.

[1:00:58] >> Amy, you are not the only one.

[1:01:00] >> Right, So, all right. So, I'm going to say

[1:01:03] there's a motion on the floor. We have a

[1:01:05] second, right?

[1:01:06] >> Yeah.

[1:01:06] >> Are you Okay, let's go for a vote then.

[1:01:08] On the motion, everyone in favor say

[1:01:10] aye. Approved by the board of directors.

[1:01:12] And that's unanimous among those who are

[1:01:15] here.

[1:01:16] All voting members. Great.

[1:01:18] Approved.

[1:01:19] Thank you.

[1:01:19] >> thing I would love to ask just because

[1:01:22] Corey, you're here and I'm really sorry

[1:01:24] I'm not picking on you.

[1:01:26] I want to send out a survey and share

[1:01:29] the results with this group about how if

[1:01:31] the process was too cumbersome.

[1:01:34] Having gone through it, did you feel

[1:01:36] like it was

[1:01:38] too much, too little? Is there something

[1:01:40] that you would change? Is there

[1:01:41] something that you felt like, "Listen,

[1:01:43] that was not cool."?

[1:01:46] >> Uh the reporting the reporting process

[1:01:49] uh for me was great. Um I have also gone

[1:01:52] through many federal grant reporting

[1:01:55] processes and

[1:01:57] um

[1:01:58] private grant

[1:02:01] as well. Um

[1:02:03] so

[1:02:04] I I don't know how great it was.

[1:02:07] I had a good experience comparatively.

[1:02:10] Um

[1:02:11] I would be interested to hear the

[1:02:13] feedback from people that aren't as

[1:02:15] familiar with the grant writing process,

[1:02:17] but for me I thought it was

[1:02:19] great. It was like I knew the amount.

[1:02:22] Um

[1:02:23] I

[1:02:25] was able to I had receipts to submit.

[1:02:28] You made a

[1:02:29] I thought it was great and I loved the

[1:02:30] way that you displayed that.

[1:02:33] Um

[1:02:34] as far as the amount that we requested

[1:02:36] versus the amount that we received.

[1:02:39] Uh that's a pretty cool

[1:02:41] >> [laughter]

[1:02:42] >> Sure. Okay, [clears throat] we'll send

[1:02:43] out a survey and I'll send you guys the

[1:02:45] >> mean that's super Yeah, but also like

[1:02:47] even just like the the results So I was

[1:02:50] concerned when you talked about

[1:02:51] switching it to a reimbursement program

[1:02:53] that that was a lot to ask of people. I

[1:02:55] think the numbers speak for themselves.

[1:02:57] You just burst the money. Like they did

[1:03:00] it. All these grantees, we have of

[1:03:02] various types of organizations, they

[1:03:04] figured it out. They got receipts. They

[1:03:06] did a project. Like we spent the money.

[1:03:08] Like it it worked. So that's awesome. I

[1:03:10] mean I think it proved it a feasible way

[1:03:13] to do it and we now, as a result of the

[1:03:16] way you structured it as a reimbursement

[1:03:17] program, have a full accounting for

[1:03:19] every dollar spent. So, that's Those are huge huge accomplishments.

[1:03:24] >> Yeah, we had people use the advance and

[1:03:25] we tested that also because the golf

[1:03:28] course, instead of going the

[1:03:29] reimbursement, they

[1:03:31] filled out to have the invoices paid.

[1:03:35] And that worked out well, too. And we're

[1:03:37] still

[1:03:38] >> That's a great way to do it.

[1:03:39] >> Yeah.

[1:03:39] >> Okay, are we moving on to the next grant

[1:03:41] cycle officially?

[1:03:43] >> I think

[1:03:44] >> Um yeah, we're ready to. So, but that

[1:03:47] So, this next grant cycle though is the

[1:03:49] one for this year, which is the one that

[1:03:52] has supported already

[1:03:55] the contractor for the airport to

[1:03:58] negotiate there

[1:04:00] um some salary for Melissa and having an

[1:04:04] economic development department.

[1:04:06] And there is you know, so that adds up

[1:04:10] to around 100,000 of the 200,000. And it

[1:04:14] was budgeted by the county commission

[1:04:17] for the other for the remainder of it to

[1:04:18] also go to economic development internal

[1:04:22] county use of economic development

[1:04:24] funds. There's

[1:04:26] >> And that's their prerogative and we

[1:04:27] don't have to do anything because they

[1:04:29] didn't ask us to.

[1:04:30] >> Well, it's sort of an interesting point

[1:04:31] here where that we're at. I mean, I

[1:04:33] think that

[1:04:35] they're still within statute the sort of

[1:04:37] like job that we're supposed to do of

[1:04:39] making a recommendation. Um so, I

[1:04:43] obviously what we recommend or don't

[1:04:46] recommend won't have an impact on the

[1:04:49] budget because that was approved by the

[1:04:50] commission, right? But we still have the

[1:04:52] opportunity and maybe responsibility to

[1:04:55] make some sort of a recommendation

[1:04:57] there.

[1:04:57] I think there's like two things to

[1:04:59] consider here. One is

[1:05:01] there's another $100,000. Maybe Melissa

[1:05:03] can give us an update on what the plan

[1:05:05] is with that.

[1:05:07] And then separate from that, we can talk

[1:05:10] about if there's anything else that we

[1:05:11] want to include in any recommendation or

[1:05:14] whether we don't want to make a

[1:05:15] recommendation or

[1:05:16] >> Well, my understanding of

[1:05:18] the state's

[1:05:21] description of how this works is they

[1:05:23] give the money to the county, the county

[1:05:24] decides whether what they want to do

[1:05:26] with it.

[1:05:27] And so, prior to this, the county said

[1:05:29] we want to do grants and they gave it to

[1:05:31] this committee and said, "Figure it

[1:05:33] out."

[1:05:34] When if they haven't said that,

[1:05:37] if they I don't think that we

[1:05:41] We're We're completely

[1:05:43] um

[1:05:44] I mean, the commission

[1:05:46] has to task us with stuff is my

[1:05:48] understanding.

[1:05:49] >> I don't think so, actually.

[1:05:51] My understanding of state statute is

[1:05:52] that it's the other way around. Like

[1:05:54] that we are responsible with making a

[1:05:57] recommendation and then the commission

[1:05:58] acts on that however they want to. With

[1:06:01] you know, they can take or leave

[1:06:02] anything from it. And that's what did

[1:06:05] not really happen

[1:06:06] >> No.

[1:06:06] >> that exactly that way this past year,

[1:06:09] you know? So, that's That's where I

[1:06:11] think there is

[1:06:11] >> Well, you guys did advise on these

[1:06:13] before the money was spent.

[1:06:15] >> We so far

[1:06:16] >> Right. Yeah.

[1:06:17] >> So far Well,

[1:06:18] >> So, technically you're still in

[1:06:20] compliance.

[1:06:20] >> Well, I mean, I don't want to I don't

[1:06:22] want to put us in non-compliance, but we advised on the contract for the

[1:06:28] airport before that money was spent.

[1:06:29] That's the extent.

[1:06:31] >> the only one that has been done so far.

[1:06:33] That's what she means by it's in

[1:06:34] compliance. Like this is for FY 2027.

[1:06:37] You haven't received this money yet.

[1:06:40] We haven't even applied for it.

[1:06:41] >> to reimburse the $50,000 that the county

[1:06:43] already spent.

[1:06:44] >> Correct.

[1:06:45] >> Yeah. Uh for It's for

[1:06:47] >> Fiscal year 2027.

[1:06:48] >> What is fiscal year 2027 run in the

[1:06:50] state of Utah?

[1:06:51] >> September October. No.

[1:06:53] July Is it July?

[1:06:56] Yeah.

[1:06:56] >> July should be

[1:06:56] >> Yeah.

[1:06:57] >> Okay. You're making

[1:06:59] this up.

[1:06:59] >> Their fiscal year is going to start and

[1:07:01] that's the money we have.

[1:07:02] >> We're ending We're just ending June

[1:07:03] 30th. We just ended this is cycle.

[1:07:05] >> So, June 30th is the end of all the

[1:07:07] stuff you just talked about.

[1:07:08] >> So, July is when the next one is.

[1:07:10] >> It's our assistant director. So, so they

[1:07:12] will be reimbursing the golf course one.

[1:07:16] And then some other items.

[1:07:19] >> Oh, got you.

[1:07:22] » But yeah, so technically you are still

[1:07:24] in in compliance.

[1:07:26] >> Okay, I'm glad to hear that. The state

[1:07:28] feels that way. I would let you know.

[1:07:29] >> [laughter]

[1:07:30] >> Um I think there's still some space for

[1:07:32] discussion on on that, but

[1:07:35] >> So, yeah, here's her

[1:07:36] >> I'll put this Yeah, perfect.

[1:07:38] >> So, the way that I feel is it is the

[1:07:42] board's

[1:07:44] duty, obligation, whatever, to advise.

[1:07:47] And so, I wanted to make sure that I'm

[1:07:49] doing my homework and sharing with the

[1:07:51] board, here's what I would recommend.

[1:07:55] And then

[1:07:56] you guys do as a board whatever you feel

[1:07:58] like you need to do as a board.

[1:08:02] But before we do that, just because we

[1:08:04] have our commission liaison here, so I'm

[1:08:06] going to take advantage of that

[1:08:07] opportunity

[1:08:09] to have their ear so that they can take

[1:08:11] this back to the commission because I

[1:08:14] don't really understand where it is that

[1:08:17] we're sitting and what the intent is and

[1:08:19] what we want to do moving forward. So,

[1:08:21] my understanding of this without having

[1:08:22] any specific conversations with the

[1:08:24] commission

[1:08:26] is that we basically had an economic

[1:08:28] development department that was paid for

[1:08:30] out of economic development

[1:08:31] diversification funds.

[1:08:33] And after the audit, the one thing that

[1:08:36] I do know is that was completely gutted.

[1:08:39] And when I say gutted, I mean that there

[1:08:41] wasn't even $10 worth of budget. I have

[1:08:44] been buying my own software or licensing

[1:08:47] my own things or like I wanted to go to

[1:08:49] Utah One Summit, so I paid for that

[1:08:51] myself and then we got some grant money

[1:08:53] from CERTO or whatever.

[1:08:55] There's just no budget for an economic

[1:08:57] development department. So, it's my

[1:08:59] understanding that we want to be able to

[1:09:01] build that, we want to build that

[1:09:03] capacity, and that this is sort of like

[1:09:05] a recovery year. So, we use the budget,

[1:09:09] we pay for

[1:09:11] some staff

[1:09:12] from the RCG funds this year, and this

[1:09:15] is what we have absolutely no clarity

[1:09:17] on.

[1:09:18] My assumption would be is that once we

[1:09:20] build that capacity, or we begin to

[1:09:22] build that capacity in that department,

[1:09:24] that at some point

[1:09:25] we wouldn't use RCG funds for that. We

[1:09:28] may just say, "Hey, this is how we

[1:09:31] fund economic development." But, I don't

[1:09:34] know, and I think that that's something

[1:09:35] for the commission to be able to talk

[1:09:37] about and say, "What is our plan long

[1:09:39] term for economic development? Is it

[1:09:41] important to us? Do we feel like this is

[1:09:43] a function that we want to invest in? Or

[1:09:46] do we kind of feel like it works just

[1:09:48] fine to have it run with the RCG funds,

[1:09:50] and other counties do that, and that's

[1:09:52] how we want to do it moving forward?"

[1:09:54] So, as I was looking at putting together

[1:09:56] the plan or the proposal

[1:09:58] without having that context, I'll just

[1:10:01] say that that's kind of my assumption is

[1:10:03] we're not really sure yet, so we're

[1:10:04] going to do it this year.

[1:10:06] And the intention is we want to decide

[1:10:08] as a commission what our long-term

[1:10:09] strategy is, how important do we think

[1:10:11] it is, and how we feel like we need to

[1:10:13] invest in that, or if we do think that

[1:10:14] it's a long-term RCG

[1:10:17] funding solution.

[1:10:19] So, not knowing that, I've crafted it

[1:10:22] all as capacity building.

[1:10:24] So, I wanted to use the same form

[1:10:27] that we have to use for reporting, cuz I

[1:10:29] don't want to keep duplicating efforts.

[1:10:31] Man, there's a lot of people work. So,

[1:10:32] I'm trying to streamline it down and

[1:10:34] make it as easy as possible for this to

[1:10:36] be passed along to someone else.

[1:10:39] So, using that same format, the way that

[1:10:41] I've outlined it is we've already got

[1:10:43] the vote on the Canyonlands Field

[1:10:44] Airport of the $50,000.

[1:10:47] I did verify with them, Chris, that they

[1:10:51] have used all of the 50, and they will

[1:10:53] also use more than that. My assumption

[1:10:56] is out of the airport budget. Because

[1:10:59] now what the contractor is doing is

[1:11:01] they're helping define terms. So,

[1:11:03] they've pulled every contract that

[1:11:06] SkyWest currently has with small

[1:11:07] airports. They're reading all of the

[1:11:10] fine print, everything that they have

[1:11:12] given to other airports, and they want

[1:11:14] to make sure that we are getting the

[1:11:15] best deal possible including, "Here's

[1:11:18] how many local people that we want you

[1:11:19] to hire. Here's what we consider to be a

[1:11:21] living wage. Here's what we need to

[1:11:23] understand about affordable housing in

[1:11:25] Grand County."

[1:11:27] And they're doing that on their own, but

[1:11:29] it's my understanding that that's above

[1:11:31] and beyond and will be coming from a

[1:11:32] different budget. We haven't been asked

[1:11:36] for any budget or funding, so I didn't

[1:11:38] accommodate for that.

[1:11:39] And then if you go down to the county

[1:11:42] use,

[1:11:44] the commission had said during the

[1:11:45] budgeting process last year that they

[1:11:47] wanted to use $60,000 for development

[1:11:50] staff, so I captured that.

[1:11:52] Conference, workshops, and training,

[1:11:55] which I've kind of gotten a list from Go

[1:11:56] Ed about what they recommend, what they

[1:11:59] think that would be helpful, and I've

[1:12:01] accommodated for that in the budget.

[1:12:03] And then memberships and partnerships, I

[1:12:06] have it $30,000.

[1:12:08] The reason why I have it at $30,000 is

[1:12:09] we still don't have an exact

[1:12:11] number from EDC Utah, but for what we

[1:12:15] need, they had said, "Oh, between 20 and

[1:12:18] $30,000."

[1:12:19] So, I'm like, "Okay." We don't know what

[1:12:21] that is exactly. Can you go into what

[1:12:23] EDC Utah does? Yes. So, EDC Utah has

[1:12:27] been contracted by uh Go Ed

[1:12:30] to offer a certain specific suite of

[1:12:32] services. Most of them are around and

[1:12:34] Devereaux would know a lot more about

[1:12:35] this than I would, but around the idea

[1:12:38] of attraction, retention, expansion

[1:12:42] of workforce. So, us being able to say,

[1:12:44] "Here's our strategy. Here's what we

[1:12:46] need you to do for us." And then they

[1:12:48] would go out and their job is to bring

[1:12:51] those folks in. So, we have neglected

[1:12:54] our membership. We're supposed to be

[1:12:55] paying a baseline membership and we

[1:12:57] neglected that. So, our county profile

[1:13:00] at the state level is about 5 years out

[1:13:02] of date right now and hasn't been

[1:13:04] updated. So, they've got some cleanup

[1:13:07] work to do for us and then we've got

[1:13:09] some things that we really need for them

[1:13:10] to do for us moving forward.

[1:13:13] So, I've captured that membership in

[1:13:15] there

[1:13:16] and then

[1:13:18] county profile development positioning

[1:13:20] and marketing and budgeted at $10,000.

[1:13:24] So,

[1:13:25] those are things like the pieces that

[1:13:28] we'll use for attraction, recruitment,

[1:13:31] website stuff. One of the big things

[1:13:34] that would go under this category for me

[1:13:36] is I believe that as a county we're in

[1:13:37] desperate need of a dashboard

[1:13:40] to be able to help us track some really

[1:13:41] key statistics that we're not really

[1:13:43] actively paying attention to right now

[1:13:45] to our detriment, I believe. So, things

[1:13:48] like for example,

[1:13:50] uh we have a divergence of tourism jobs.

[1:13:54] So, we're getting more and more tourism

[1:13:56] jobs and we're building in that category

[1:13:58] and unfortunately, those jobs are paying

[1:14:00] less and less. So, over the last 5

[1:14:02] years, if you look at those statistics,

[1:14:04] what you'll see is you'll see an

[1:14:05] increase in jobs, which is nice, except

[1:14:08] that they are consistently becoming more

[1:14:10] low paying. It's not really a great

[1:14:12] thing. There are other things from an

[1:14:14] economic mobility standpoint that are

[1:14:16] not good news for us as a county in

[1:14:19] terms of what are your outcomes look for

[1:14:22] jobs if you are born within the county

[1:14:26] and those statistics right now for us

[1:14:28] are getting fairly abysmal. So, being

[1:14:30] able to look at those things and say

[1:14:32] where we really trying to focus and

[1:14:34] where are we moving the needle, those

[1:14:36] are some of the things that we need.

[1:14:38] And then I've got reporting, studies,

[1:14:41] and profiles and I have that at $10,000.

[1:14:45] So, for example, we know that we've got

[1:14:47] a huge sales tax leakage challenge in a

[1:14:50] bunch of different areas.

[1:14:52] We don't have any budget available to be

[1:14:54] able to get those standard reports. So,

[1:14:57] I've got that in there.

[1:14:59] And then, matching funds for non-go-ed

[1:15:02] economic development projects grants,

[1:15:04] I've got that at 30,000. And what I

[1:15:06] talked to Deborah about is I'm calling

[1:15:08] this seed capital. So, there are several

[1:15:11] grants that I want to go after for some

[1:15:13] economic development projects, but we

[1:15:15] just don't have matching budget

[1:15:16] available at the county level.

[1:15:18] So, if for example, we're applying for

[1:15:20] $400,000 economic mobility grant that

[1:15:24] requires the county to have a match, the

[1:15:26] county doesn't have budget in the 2027

[1:15:28] budget to be able to do that matching.

[1:15:33] So, that's kind of like the high-level.

[1:15:36] Dive in.

[1:15:37] >> [snorts]

[1:15:38] >> So, just to be clear, you're proposing

[1:15:41] this budget, and what year is this for?

[1:15:44] >> It's the fiscal 2027.

[1:15:46] >> Which starts

[1:15:47] >> Starting next month.

[1:15:48] >> As soon as she submits her reporting,

[1:15:50] the new application [clears throat] will

[1:15:51] generate.

[1:15:54] » The new application for the grant.

[1:15:56] >> For this one, yeah.

[1:15:57] >> And so, this we would be using all the

[1:16:01] 150 that we would have got that

[1:16:05] Which grant is it? Sorry.

[1:16:07] >> It's the RCG.

[1:16:08] >> RCG. So, we would use our full RCG grant

[1:16:12] again next year.

[1:16:13] >> Not again. This is the time that the

[1:16:16] county budgeted for.

[1:16:17] This is that year that the commission

[1:16:18] budgeted for last year.

[1:16:20] >> Got it. So, this is the time we knew we

[1:16:22] were going to do this, and now this is

[1:16:24] the budget that we're going to that we

[1:16:26] would do.

[1:16:28] Um

[1:16:29] and

[1:16:30] you need us to recommend this?

[1:16:35] I mean, do we officially have a say, or

[1:16:37] do we have a responsibility here?

[1:16:39] >> I mean, we have a responsibility to

[1:16:43] advise the county legislative body on

[1:16:45] what projects should be funded by grant

[1:16:47] money provided to a rural county.

[1:16:49] So, yes, at a general level, yes, we

[1:16:53] have an advisory duty.

[1:16:57] >> Okay. Do we have anything else?

[1:16:59] >> don't think how we exercise that. Like

[1:17:01] there's some, you know, I mean there's

[1:17:03] not It doesn't say specifically in here

[1:17:05] that has to look a certain way, but it exists as a general consultant.

[1:17:10] >> Okay. And so you do this this if if we

[1:17:14] do nothing, this would get submitted

[1:17:16] because it would come from the county.

[1:17:18] >> No.

[1:17:19] >> So, you would In order to get this

[1:17:20] money, we have to do this.

[1:17:22] >> You have to advise. You have to say,

[1:17:24] "Melissa, I don't agree with this." or

[1:17:26] "Melissa, I love this. This is why I

[1:17:28] don't agree with it. This is what I

[1:17:30] would propose instead."

[1:17:32] >> Got it.

[1:17:33] >> advise.

[1:17:33] >> Okay. Uh

[1:17:35] I have concerns over studying

[1:17:37] socio-economic data

[1:17:40] from this uh

[1:17:42] at

[1:17:43] with this budget and at this level. I

[1:17:46] think that there are a lot of other

[1:17:48] things that we could be doing that would

[1:17:51] make a difference in our county's

[1:17:53] economy.

[1:17:55] Uh

[1:17:55] I think

[1:17:57] you know, there's a lot of that data out

[1:17:59] there.

[1:18:00] Uh

[1:18:01] Headwaters has access to all kinds of

[1:18:04] data that you can look at. I haven't

[1:18:05] looked specifically at the points that

[1:18:07] you just made, Melissa, if that's

[1:18:08] available, but I kind of think it is.

[1:18:10] So, I don't know

[1:18:12] um

[1:18:13] I mean

[1:18:15] our county's

[1:18:17] economy depends on visitation to the

[1:18:20] public lands.

[1:18:22] And if we want to improve things in our

[1:18:25] county, we have to acknowledge that, in

[1:18:28] my opinion. And if we aren't willing to

[1:18:30] acknowledge that, it's sort of

[1:18:33] rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic,

[1:18:35] in my opinion. [clears throat] Because

[1:18:37] if you're not looking at the main driver

[1:18:39] of where the money's coming from, it's

[1:18:42] hard to influence it to do a better job.

[1:18:45] Like if you're looking at how do we

[1:18:47] encourage higher salaries for the types

[1:18:49] of jobs we have, you have to really

[1:18:51] understand what those jobs are. And we

[1:18:55] are not anywhere USA, our data is going

[1:18:58] to look different from the rest of the

[1:19:00] state. And yes, we want to improve it,

[1:19:03] but we can't just keep saying these jobs

[1:19:06] are no good. Let's keep pointing out how

[1:19:07] bad these jobs are without

[1:19:11] suggesting a way to make those jobs

[1:19:12] better. But if you do all that in a

[1:19:14] vacuum where you're not discussing why

[1:19:18] people are bringing their credit cards

[1:19:20] to Greene County,

[1:19:22] I think you're kind of I just think

[1:19:24] you're it's going to be hard to be

[1:19:25] effective without acknowledging what

[1:19:29] drives our economy. So I have some

[1:19:31] concerns about that. Um

[1:19:34] I mean, yeah, I think we should do some

[1:19:35] studies and we should do some

[1:19:37] conferences and

[1:19:40] we should look at reports, but I don't

[1:19:42] think I don't know um

[1:19:45] it's hard to say

[1:19:46] without seeing the specific study

[1:19:48] proposal if this is

[1:19:52] a great way to spend the money. I just I

[1:19:55] don't think it's enough information.

[1:19:57] >> Well, you in your position, you know,

[1:19:58] you have because you're on the board and

[1:20:00] because you have voice up the board,

[1:20:02] right? You have the opportunity to bring

[1:20:05] studies forward to this group and to

[1:20:07] Melissa. You know, like if you have

[1:20:09] specific studies on topics that you

[1:20:11] think are important. You know, that's

[1:20:13] why I'm here is to like cheerlead you

[1:20:14] all. So like you guys are the ones who

[1:20:16] were chosen to be on this board, you

[1:20:18] know, like let's hear it. You know, what

[1:20:21] studies do you want? You know?

[1:20:23] >> Well

[1:20:24] um

[1:20:25] You know, I I think you have to have a

[1:20:27] plan,

[1:20:28] right? And I I think you're trying Are

[1:20:30] you trying to say like I need a staff

[1:20:33] and a budget

[1:20:34] to build this department.

[1:20:36] And then

[1:20:37] but like we've had like we kind of had

[1:20:40] that

[1:20:41] trail to tomorrow, right? Did that ever

[1:20:43] get adopted? No.

[1:20:45] We've spent a lot money on that plan.

[1:20:47] And it's like, okay, there's a plan.

[1:20:52] Do like do you like work on that plan or

[1:20:55] you suggesting we come up with

[1:20:58] another plan?

[1:21:00] Is

[1:21:01] like I'm trying to see how you're like

[1:21:03] 60,000 bucks. Are you going to have

[1:21:04] somebody

[1:21:05] like that's for an assistant?

[1:21:07] >> That's your pay.

[1:21:09] Okay. Okay. So we need somebody in that

[1:21:12] chair and you're going to be

[1:21:15] doing

[1:21:17] what?

[1:21:18] >> So we've got a plan and we've been

[1:21:21] working the plan.

[1:21:22] >> She doesn't work at all. No, no, no.

[1:21:23] >> [laughter]

[1:21:23] >> I I

[1:21:24] No, you're always doing this. So what

[1:21:26] plan is it? Like do we have a thing

[1:21:29] adopted into the general plan or

[1:21:31] >> We're working on the general plan

[1:21:32] adoption.

[1:21:34] We're working on about six key

[1:21:36] initiatives

[1:21:38] that are really really beefy with some

[1:21:40] giant heavy lifting.

[1:21:42] And so basically this budget is in

[1:21:45] support of that plan.

[1:21:47] >> So So you guys are making an amendment

[1:21:50] to the like going to be making an

[1:21:52] amendment to the general plan. Okay. And

[1:21:54] then like is that all internal or you

[1:21:56] guys but like where you'd be like Okay, we need

[1:22:00] an economic study to know median pay or

[1:22:03] something for example. We could be proud

[1:22:06] of those. So I need that study.

[1:22:09] 5,000 bucks. Is that kind of the idea?

[1:22:12] Okay.

[1:22:13] >> Yep.

[1:22:13] >> So

[1:22:14] is it common that

[1:22:17] you know, is it common to pay your

[1:22:20] economic director out of

[1:22:22] >> A lot of counties do.

[1:22:23] >> Do they? Okay.

[1:22:24] >> Yeah, and that's why we needed to be

[1:22:25] more direct in what we require, hence

[1:22:29] >> the memo.

[1:22:29] >> Yeah. Okay. I'm starting to get

[1:22:32] >> Yeah.

[1:22:32] >> all the dots.

[1:22:33] >> Yeah. Cuz some counties outsource their

[1:22:35] economic development directors to

[1:22:37] private organizations or a consultant.

[1:22:40] So then that consultant has like five

[1:22:42] counties. And they're getting paid from

[1:22:44] RCG funds from all of that counties.

[1:22:47] Many ways to do this.

[1:22:48] >> Right.

[1:22:50] So by So by generating

[1:22:53] a plan internally

[1:22:57] Okay. I'm

[1:22:58] just trying to fit fit those out. Are we

[1:23:01] going to be like

[1:23:05] Well, I guess we're not privy to that

[1:23:07] process then.

[1:23:08] >> Well, that's the problem.

[1:23:09] >> Right. Well, I'm just saying like

[1:23:11] >> You You are

[1:23:12] >> We covered it. Like we've

[1:23:14] >> I think they're referring to the

[1:23:15] PowerPoint that we

[1:23:18] got had presented to us at the beginning

[1:23:20] of the year.

[1:23:21] All right.

[1:23:22] That's what she's referring to as the

[1:23:23] plan.

[1:23:23] >> Okay. So it's just county generated

[1:23:26] in-house.

[1:23:27] County going up with that. Okay.

[1:23:30] The

[1:23:32] I just think on certain things like

[1:23:33] we've we've you know, the county spent

[1:23:35] money on plans.

[1:23:37] And

[1:23:39] you know

[1:23:40] That That's kind of my thing is like

[1:23:42] okay, like is that a redundancy or

[1:23:46] uh

[1:23:48] That'd be my only concern. I'm not sure.

[1:23:50] Okay. We need to build this department

[1:23:52] up from the ground level. But I just

[1:23:54] understand that the general plan is

[1:23:55] moving forward. I see. I understand.

[1:23:58] >> Sorry.

[1:23:59] >> I mean

[1:24:00] well, sorry. Go ahead. I have a question

[1:24:02] cuz I feel a little off. So the last

[1:24:04] time we met a few months back and we

[1:24:07] were talking about, you know, do we

[1:24:09] bring in Spanish Trail, you know, do we

[1:24:10] bring out these outside sources? Are we

[1:24:12] just asking Louisa to bring us projects

[1:24:15] to vote on?

[1:24:16] Is that this pool of money or

[1:24:18] >> No, that's RCOG. That's the

[1:24:20] >> So that's completely separate.

[1:24:21] >> That's the next conversation.

[1:24:22] >> Yeah, it's that's due at a later time.

[1:24:24] This is the first recommendation is RCG

[1:24:27] money and then the second second one

[1:24:29] that opens up is the RCOG.

[1:24:31] >> Which is the up to 600,000?

[1:24:31] >> Which is the and it's a competitive

[1:24:33] grant that goes to the state and gets

[1:24:35] decided on and yes, up to 600,000.

[1:24:37] >> This is guaranteed 200,000.

[1:24:40] >> 200,000 just goes basically they open up

[1:24:42] an application and the county gets it as

[1:24:45] long as they do the reporting every year

[1:24:46] and and gets it. So, last year that is

[1:24:48] just ended on June

[1:24:50] this year that is just ending on June

[1:24:52] 30th, 2026 with all these subgrants. And

[1:24:54] so, now we completed we went through

[1:24:56] that process last year, completed them

[1:24:58] all um you know, funded them all and

[1:25:01] have all the paperwork on them and so,

[1:25:03] now that new grant applications going to

[1:25:05] go into the state and to come back to

[1:25:07] the county the 200,000 dollars. And this

[1:25:10] is the plan for the 200,000 dollars. At

[1:25:13] budget season, which our our our Grant

[1:25:16] County budget goes from January 1 to

[1:25:19] December 31, so it's a little little

[1:25:20] different. Um when we hired Melissa in

[1:25:23] 2025,

[1:25:25] we didn't have any money for economic

[1:25:27] development, so we actually hired her

[1:25:29] outside of budget cuz there was no

[1:25:31] economic development no economic plan,

[1:25:33] hired her out of budget.

[1:25:35] 2026

[1:25:37] county budget was very

[1:25:40] rough budgeting season. We were like

[1:25:42] negative 2 million dollars pulling out

[1:25:44] of our

[1:25:45] general plan and so, we had to cut cut cut. So, a piece of that was to

[1:25:49] say, you know, let's go ahead and pay

[1:25:50] economic development out of

[1:25:53] um

[1:25:55] the department out of the RCG funds. So,

[1:25:58] they made that decision. A collective

[1:26:00] body all seven voted yes for that

[1:26:03] without

[1:26:04] >> budget?

[1:26:05] >> For the entire budget, yeah.

[1:26:06] >> there wasn't anything specific.

[1:26:07] >> Yeah, it wasn't anything specific.

[1:26:08] >> that money.

[1:26:09] >> yeah, we we definitely everyone knew

[1:26:11] that that was going to be there. Like

[1:26:12] the commission knew that that's what the

[1:26:13] money was going to be spent for. This

[1:26:16] board still has

[1:26:19] recommendations. They still get to They

[1:26:21] still have to recommend or or not. It

[1:26:23] still goes even if you guys want made a

[1:26:25] whole new plan and said, "You know what?

[1:26:27] We actually want to make a whole new

[1:26:28] plan. We have all these plans. We're

[1:26:29] going to do this." And then we're going

[1:26:31] to take it The commission The commission

[1:26:32] can vote and say, "No, we're going to do

[1:26:34] this plan."

[1:26:35] Or they can say, "We love your plan and

[1:26:36] we're going to do this plan." Or we can

[1:26:38] take pieces of it. So, it's not like

[1:26:40] it's just just not happening.

[1:26:42] The one piece I do want to state about public lands is that every single

[1:26:48] commission meeting and I have my out of

[1:26:50] meetings every single

[1:26:52] week is the people want diversity in

[1:26:55] this community. They do not want every

[1:26:56] single person that's coming here with

[1:26:57] their credit card to be here for public

[1:26:59] lands. They want diversity. I mean,

[1:27:01] that's all what I hear. Just like we had

[1:27:03] I mean, we need housing, we need

[1:27:04] diversity. We need housing, we need

[1:27:06] diversity. So, when we have plans and

[1:27:08] studies to try to figure out, you know,

[1:27:10] diversity of How do we expand our health

[1:27:13] care system? So, people want to come to

[1:27:14] Grand County. How do we expand our care

[1:27:17] center? How do we expand Those are the

[1:27:18] kind of things that this money's going

[1:27:20] to go for for economic development in

[1:27:22] Grand County that's not acknowledging

[1:27:24] public lands. Everybody knows that we

[1:27:26] have public lands. They come here. Do we

[1:27:27] want to protect our public lands? Yes,

[1:27:29] but this money shouldn't go to anything

[1:27:31] about public lands, in my opinion,

[1:27:34] because that's not what we're trying to

[1:27:36] do here. We're trying to expand economic

[1:27:38] development, not just keep on down this

[1:27:40] narrow path that we're on.

[1:27:43] >> So,

[1:27:44] um

[1:27:44] I have I have no problem with using the

[1:27:47] money to set up this economic

[1:27:48] development department and to pay a

[1:27:50] salary. I have no problem with that. And

[1:27:52] I'm not suggesting that we um

[1:27:57] I don't think the public lands path is

[1:27:59] narrow. I think it's huge.

[1:28:01] And I don't know uh

[1:28:04] you know, what you're going to do to

[1:28:06] diversify. Like, I don't I don't know

[1:28:09] how studying the discrepancy in income

[1:28:13] um or the changes in income are going to

[1:28:15] help us figure out how to diversify.

[1:28:17] It's just going to study and say, "Yeah,

[1:28:19] we have a problem. The salary's going

[1:28:21] down."

[1:28:22] So, it's not so much like

[1:28:25] the dichotomy that you present of it's

[1:28:27] either public lands and and it's

[1:28:29] visitors or it's diversified. I don't I

[1:28:32] think that's a false dichotomy,

[1:28:34] actually.

[1:28:34] >> Well, no, it's not a dichotomy. They are

[1:28:36] totally intertwined.

[1:28:37] >> Right. I just heard you say it's only

[1:28:39] public lands.

[1:28:39] >> No, I'm sorry. I want to say that

[1:28:40] there's a diverse, you know, with the

[1:28:42] economy.

[1:28:42] >> Absolutely. Absolutely. But, the problem

[1:28:44] is because

[1:28:46] if if this committee

[1:28:49] when we started working on

[1:28:51] thinking about how to optimize our

[1:28:53] visitation economy and improve our

[1:28:56] visitation economy

[1:28:58] we were kind of told, "You don't get to

[1:29:01] like

[1:29:02] that that's not going to be in the

[1:29:03] general plan." Like, when we were

[1:29:04] looking at the general plan and trying

[1:29:06] to figure out, "Well, how can we get the

[1:29:08] general plan to reflect more of the

[1:29:10] reality instead of be a general plan for

[1:29:13] anywhere, USA?"

[1:29:14] >> Moab, Utah has unique

[1:29:16] >> opportunities and challenges. And we we

[1:29:20] should definitely be addressing those

[1:29:22] and our economic development department

[1:29:24] should be getting in the weeds on these

[1:29:25] issues. So,

[1:29:27] >> So, we need an economic development

[1:29:29] department. We need to pay them. I'm I'm

[1:29:32] concerned about spending money on

[1:29:34] studies that I'm not really clear how

[1:29:37] they're going to help us move the

[1:29:38] needle.

[1:29:39] >> I mean, for me the

[1:29:40] >> I want to be really careful, though,

[1:29:42] just because I want to address the study

[1:29:44] thing just to keep those things

[1:29:45] separate.

[1:29:47] There are things that we want to be able

[1:29:50] to track because we need to measure

[1:29:52] those.

[1:29:53] >> Right? Sure.

[1:29:53] >> So, the things like you just said, those

[1:29:56] are available to us at no cost. I'm

[1:29:58] speaking the Harvard

[1:29:59] >> In-Plan, whatever.

[1:30:01] >> We've got those things. Right. So, what

[1:30:03] I'm talking about when I talk about

[1:30:04] that, just so that everyone's clear, is

[1:30:06] making sure that we're visibly tracking

[1:30:09] those. So, in our general plan

[1:30:10] currently, you guys may or may not be

[1:30:12] aware, I don't know, there are 120

[1:30:14] different metrics that we're required to

[1:30:16] track by that general plan, and we have

[1:30:19] tracked none of them.

[1:30:21] So, and the reason why we're not seeing

[1:30:23] anything move, and we're seeing every

[1:30:25] time that uh

[1:30:28] Robert Spinello comes and does his

[1:30:30] amazing things, or every time we pay

[1:30:32] $150,000

[1:30:34] for a plan,

[1:30:36] we're seeing the same thing. The

[1:30:38] demographic is getting older.

[1:30:40] The jobs are paying less. They're more

[1:30:43] wrapped up in this one area. We're not

[1:30:45] seeing enough of them here. So, it's not

[1:30:48] surprising to all of us. So, what I'm

[1:30:49] talking about doing, when I'm saying we

[1:30:51] need to measure these things, is that I

[1:30:53] want to make sure that we're looking at

[1:30:54] all of them. So, everything that we're

[1:30:56] trying, everything that we're testing,

[1:30:58] everything that we're doubling down on,

[1:30:59] we're making sure that we can track that

[1:31:01] and seeing over time, can we impact

[1:31:04] those trends? So, I want to be really

[1:31:05] clear about that. When I say purchasing

[1:31:07] studies, I'm not talking about something

[1:31:10] that we can get from Headwater or

[1:31:11] whatever. There's some basic things like

[1:31:12] sales tax leakage reports that we need

[1:31:15] to use for public private partnerships,

[1:31:17] and we need that investment data,

[1:31:19] especially when it comes to bonding,

[1:31:21] that are not free. We can't get those

[1:31:22] free.

[1:31:23] >> How do we pay to get them, then?

[1:31:25] >> Science Public Finance, or Cruzen

[1:31:27] Associates, or

[1:31:29] they, you know, we've got

[1:31:33] Sorry. What was that?

[1:31:34] >> Oh, no, no.

[1:31:35] >> Oh, sorry. Excuse me.

[1:31:36] >> I want to jump in with something, and

[1:31:37] then Aaron Scott has something to add,

[1:31:38] too. So, I think, I mean, for me, on

[1:31:40] that in response to the high-level

[1:31:41] stuff, I do I understand that we hear

[1:31:44] from residents a lot that

[1:31:45] diversification is what we need. I will

[1:31:48] just make like my own statement. To me,

[1:31:50] it's not about

[1:31:52] The ultimate goal is not

[1:31:54] diversification. The ultimate goal is

[1:31:56] the economic well-being of our

[1:31:58] residents, right? And I think we really

[1:31:59] need to as as a group like us, right? I

[1:32:02] mean, I understand that as a as a office

[1:32:04] holder response you know, to

[1:32:06] constituents like your job is a little

[1:32:07] different than ours maybe or than some

[1:32:09] of ours. But to me, that's our our goal.

[1:32:13] And we have to be really thoughtful and

[1:32:16] helpful in coming up with the best ways

[1:32:19] to get to that goal, which may include

[1:32:20] some diversification, right? And may

[1:32:22] include some tweaking of our visitation

[1:32:26] economy so that we can improve wages

[1:32:28] within it or something like that.

[1:32:31] And then we have this

[1:32:32] next layer of challenge, which is that

[1:32:34] we may only control like a small budget

[1:32:36] compared to the TRT budget, which might

[1:32:38] be more appropriate place to do some of

[1:32:39] that tweaking, right? So I I

[1:32:40] understanding that it's very like

[1:32:42] complex and everything like that. That to me I just want to say is like

[1:32:45] should be our ultimate goal. I also am

[1:32:48] totally on board with the idea that

[1:32:51] this year

[1:32:53] is about capacity building of a new

[1:32:54] department. I mean, I think it's

[1:32:56] something that's commission's already

[1:32:57] stated through the budget. Sounds like

[1:32:59] there's like some willingness around the

[1:33:01] table to to support that again.

[1:33:03] Um

[1:33:05] I guess a question that to

[1:33:08] sits next to that with me is is there

[1:33:10] then

[1:33:12] a desire

[1:33:14] among in the commission

[1:33:18] to give long-term stability to an

[1:33:21] economic development department. And I

[1:33:22] think Melissa was kind of asking that

[1:33:24] question she was talking to me because

[1:33:25] to me it's like

[1:33:27] how how we do this, how we spend the

[1:33:29] money now depends on whether there's

[1:33:31] money coming down the road to sustain

[1:33:33] something that we help build with this

[1:33:35] RCG funding here.

[1:33:36] >> Well, sales tax revenue is what what

[1:33:38] basically funds our community, you know,

[1:33:40] and so if our sales tax revenue goes up,

[1:33:43] then we have

[1:33:45] um the I mean, I would love to see three

[1:33:47] people in the department.

[1:33:49] >> Yeah.

[1:33:49] >> I would love to. I think that

[1:33:51] >> But can we just make sure there's one

[1:33:52] next year? I mean, that that's all I I

[1:33:54] mean, I I was serious like that's just

[1:33:56] >> her talking she's like this

[1:33:57] for somebody." And you know, it makes me

[1:34:00] feel really uncomfortable because, you

[1:34:01] know, it's like but which is great. We

[1:34:02] need to be duplicatable for people to

[1:34:04] replace us or whatever. But, yeah, I

[1:34:07] would like to see our economic

[1:34:08] development grow. And I do want it to

[1:34:10] include public lands and everything.

[1:34:12] But, you know, I want to it needs to be

[1:34:14] robust. We we haven't had There's been

[1:34:17] lots of changes in economic development

[1:34:18] in this community and it has been mainly

[1:34:21] down the road of tourism. And I think

[1:34:23] that there is there's a there's a way to

[1:34:26] continue the tourism. But, like you

[1:34:27] said, that's that big fat budget. They

[1:34:29] have a big budget. So,

[1:34:30] let them budget that and and, you know,

[1:34:33] and if you're interested in that, get on

[1:34:34] that board. And then this board has an

[1:34:37] effect an effect in a different way. And

[1:34:38] I think as Melissa walk moves through

[1:34:41] these this next year, she's going to

[1:34:42] come back with all those to you. It's

[1:34:44] not like she's going to be acting

[1:34:45] independently. She's going to come back

[1:34:47] and report or say, "Hey, I'm looking at

[1:34:49] these." Or it'd be really great if

[1:34:50] people came into meeting and said, "I

[1:34:52] would be really interested in this." Or

[1:34:54] just email her or Brittany or I.

[1:34:56] >> Yeah.

[1:34:57] >> And and say this would be super valuable

[1:34:59] information. You know, Melissa and I

[1:35:00] looked at the child to and I'm sorry I'm

[1:35:01] talking a lot today.

[1:35:03] I'm learning a lot. I'm learning a lot

[1:35:04] in the last year and a half. But, you

[1:35:06] know, I you know, we went through the

[1:35:07] child to tomorrow plan and I went over

[1:35:09] that a lot. Did you know, I I watched

[1:35:11] the meetings. I went to the meetings

[1:35:12] while it was being put together. I was

[1:35:15] one of the community input people and I

[1:35:16] was really excited to be about it. And

[1:35:18] now I'm a commissioner sitting where I'm

[1:35:20] at right now. It doesn't have a lot of

[1:35:21] value. Like when as I read it, I'm like,

[1:35:23] "This is exactly what we already know."

[1:35:25] all of these things. It

[1:35:27] doesn't give us a path forward. There's

[1:35:28] no path forward to it. It's like, "This

[1:35:30] is all the information that we all

[1:35:32] know." But, there's not like a it's not

[1:35:34] a plan.

[1:35:35] >> agree with

[1:35:36] that. I mean, we were trying to create a

[1:35:37] plan

[1:35:38] >> So, we knew that we knew it wasn't a

[1:35:40] plan and that's what we this board was

[1:35:41] trying to do is take that input into an

[1:35:44] action plan. Let me just say it one

[1:35:46] other way just for a second.

[1:35:48] I work in this field and I am looking at

[1:35:51] an RFP from Coconino County, which is

[1:35:53] Flagstaff, right? I see these other

[1:35:56] counties leaning in to their

[1:35:59] recreation economies, not just for

[1:36:01] tourism revenue, but for quality of life

[1:36:03] to attract business investment, okay?

[1:36:06] So, it's a it's a huge

[1:36:09] piece, and every county across the West

[1:36:12] is doing this right now. So, what

[1:36:14] worries me is when is when our

[1:36:17] leadership is like, "We don't need to do

[1:36:19] anything for tourism. It's fine. We

[1:36:22] don't need to fix it. We've got that. We

[1:36:24] really want to do something else, something else." And

[1:36:26] then I look at these other communities

[1:36:28] who are like really investing in this in

[1:36:31] their recreation assets and quality of

[1:36:34] life and these other pieces, and I worry

[1:36:36] that they're going to eat our lunch

[1:36:37] because we're so busy trying to

[1:36:39] diversify when I can tell you that the

[1:36:42] opportunities for like a

[1:36:45] uh

[1:36:47] what do they call it? Um

[1:36:49] light manufacturing or whatever you're

[1:36:51] thinking of as everyday anywhere USA

[1:36:54] jobs are not going to come to Moab. So,

[1:36:57] you can throw out that word, "We need to

[1:36:58] diversify." And any any citizen can say,

[1:37:01] "I don't like the visitor economy. I

[1:37:03] don't want to be part of that. I don't

[1:37:05] It's not It doesn't touch me. Whatever."

[1:37:07] It's like, "Great. How can we fix it so

[1:37:09] that it does help everyone?" And try to

[1:37:11] instead of trying to reinvent the wheel

[1:37:13] or attract something that's really going

[1:37:15] to be difficult to attract. So, that's

[1:37:17] what makes me nervous about it. Like, we

[1:37:19] have to And And yeah, Trails to Tomorrow

[1:37:22] just said a lot of things we knew, but

[1:37:25] the the point is other communities are

[1:37:27] taking that type of report, the Trails

[1:37:29] to Tomorrow report, and they are

[1:37:31] building a plan.

[1:37:32] And that plan involves all kinds of um

[1:37:36] investments in quality of life for for

[1:37:39] locals and tourism

[1:37:41] >> That's what we want.

[1:37:41] >> Well, those those things are happening

[1:37:43] all over the place.

[1:37:44] >> [laughter]

[1:37:44] >> But when we We told like, "No, you can't

[1:37:47] add the word public lands to the general

[1:37:49] plan and we don't want you to to do that

[1:37:51] work. It was kind of like, okay, well,

[1:37:54] what are we supposed to do? And then it

[1:37:56] was, do the grants, which we did. Which

[1:37:58] we did really well. I feel like we made

[1:38:00] that grant program really tight and

[1:38:02] mostly Melissa has done that. But I just

[1:38:05] so

[1:38:06] you know, if you need a motion to

[1:38:08] support this budget, okay. And but

[1:38:10] hopefully we can you can come back and

[1:38:12] tell us more details about when you're

[1:38:14] going to

[1:38:16] commission these reports and we can talk

[1:38:19] about what those are and what those

[1:38:21] mean. I mean

[1:38:22] um

[1:38:23] >> Let's go to Aaron.

[1:38:24] >> Yeah. So

[1:38:26] >> when we do these other grants that we

[1:38:27] just

[1:38:28] passed this past year, part of the thing

[1:38:30] was we looked for accountability. Right?

[1:38:32] We were like, hey, did you spend these

[1:38:35] receipts and all that? And there's a

[1:38:37] part of me that's like, basically we're

[1:38:39] going to give the county money and the

[1:38:41] county is going to have to be

[1:38:42] accountable

[1:38:43] for it. And whatever metric that is. And

[1:38:46] I think that part of that is that we

[1:38:49] review

[1:38:50] like this board is supposed to be

[1:38:52] responsible for reviewing those things.

[1:38:54] And I think it is the bridge to the

[1:38:55] public we can serve in that. Now, I know

[1:38:57] we

[1:38:58] advise our changed our bylaws so we only

[1:39:01] deal with the RCG and RCOG, but I really

[1:39:04] feel that like

[1:39:06] I would like to see if we're going to be

[1:39:08] spending the money

[1:39:10] like, okay, yeah, do it. I kind of would

[1:39:12] like to have a public process into that

[1:39:15] so [snorts] we're like

[1:39:16] yeah, we're we are developing this. We

[1:39:19] have these plans ideas. I just feel that

[1:39:22] like if we're if we're kind of behind

[1:39:24] that, we should be a part of that

[1:39:26] process of building that general plan

[1:39:30] those ideas, implementing it. And that's

[1:39:32] kind of how like I kind of feel that

[1:39:36] like that would be my wish on that.

[1:39:39] >> Absolutely.

[1:39:41] >> That's like we give input. You know,

[1:39:43] ultimately you guys have the decision,

[1:39:44] but I'm like, man, I I think it's a

[1:39:47] important economic development is so

[1:39:49] important that like

[1:39:51] there is a feedback mechanism between

[1:39:53] the public, which would be us,

[1:39:56] and and the county and the elected on

[1:39:58] that.

[1:40:00] >> Yep, that's why you guys are here to get

[1:40:02] feedback. I mean, that's what happens

[1:40:03] every single meeting. So, I think you're

[1:40:05] right on track. But, I mean, the general

[1:40:07] plan's not going to be put in this group. It's

[1:40:12] going to be outsourced. And it will have

[1:40:14] public feedback, but um I don't even

[1:40:16] know where we're get I mean, but it's

[1:40:17] moving along, but we the land use code

[1:40:19] obviously takes precedence over the

[1:40:21] general plan. I mean, they're all big

[1:40:22] projects, so it's not like it's just

[1:40:23] going to end just move along.

[1:40:26] >> wouldn't for a minute think that you

[1:40:27] guys would

[1:40:28] >> in planning and zoning and to

[1:40:29] >> What I don't want is something made in a

[1:40:31] vacuum without a lot of like public

[1:40:33] input. I think it's good

[1:40:35] >> plan has a legislative process that

[1:40:37] demands public hearing and input.

[1:40:38] >> I'm just talking about the general plan.

[1:40:39] I'm talking about like, "Hey, you know,

[1:40:41] we we're thinking about this this

[1:40:44] study." And And Ashley's like, "Oh,

[1:40:47] yeah, these guys do it already." Or

[1:40:49] something. There's my institutional

[1:40:50] knowledge. And you're like, "Yeah, look

[1:40:52] at that Trail to Tomorrow. You guys were

[1:40:53] already like, yeah, it didn't really do

[1:40:55] anything." I kind of missed that when I

[1:40:57] read the whole thing, but um yeah.

[1:40:59] >> No, it just it just it gave a lot of

[1:41:01] information. It gave a picture of what

[1:41:03] we have going on. It didn't It didn't

[1:41:05] dictate. It didn't translate that

[1:41:07] picture into a plan. It was a snapshot

[1:41:10] of what what is our status and what we

[1:41:13] have going on. And the question is, what

[1:41:14] are we going to do about it? What what

[1:41:16] are we going to invest in of that's

[1:41:18] going to make it better? Or which pieces

[1:41:20] are missing from it? And there's

[1:41:23] whatever. I mean,

[1:41:24] >> It's a process.

[1:41:25] >> What are we

[1:41:25] >> So, I

[1:41:26] >> What I mean in terms of sustainability

[1:41:28] for any institution is having that long

[1:41:30] time, you know, you we can be like,

[1:41:32] "Look, this has been always been feed

[1:41:34] Oh, there's a new commission. No one

[1:41:37] remembered what they were doing. I don't

[1:41:39] You know what I'm saying? I'm just kind

[1:41:40] of like

[1:41:41] >> If we're trying to build an institution,

[1:41:43] it helps to have

[1:41:44] >> No, public feedback is a part of how you

[1:41:46] build longevity to policy, right? If you

[1:41:48] don't include other stakeholder groups

[1:41:50] outside of government, policy flips and flips and flips with the

[1:41:53] policy makers. If you include other

[1:41:54] stakeholder groups, they provide

[1:41:56] momentum that continues on policies

[1:41:58] across administrations.

[1:41:59] >> Exactly. That's what I want with this.

[1:42:02] >> Um what my

[1:42:04] I mean, I was thinking about this in in

[1:42:06] a recommendation. I mean, I I would

[1:42:09] personally put forward a recommendation

[1:42:11] to support institution building this

[1:42:13] year, right? As we as has already been

[1:42:15] budgeted, and recognize that that's

[1:42:17] really important for Grand County at

[1:42:19] this time of transition from

[1:42:22] uh an economic development department

[1:42:24] that was wrapped up in the tourism

[1:42:26] promotion department to having a

[1:42:27] free-standing economic development

[1:42:28] department that does more than just

[1:42:31] tourism promotion. I think that's a

[1:42:33] really worthwhile thing to invest money

[1:42:35] in. Um

[1:42:36] I would also attach to that

[1:42:38] recommendation

[1:42:40] uh a recommendation for the county

[1:42:43] commission to

[1:42:46] not budget ahead of a recommendation

[1:42:50] from this

[1:42:51] commission. I would suggest to the

[1:42:52] county commission that we'll get better

[1:42:55] results with RCG in the future. I

[1:42:58] Recognizing that 2026 with is an outlier

[1:43:01] year in some ways, right? But that in

[1:43:03] the future

[1:43:05] the process should go from a

[1:43:07] recommendation from EAB then

[1:43:08] consideration by the commission and then

[1:43:10] whatever direction the commission wants

[1:43:12] to take. And that, you know, hope that

[1:43:14] we don't get in a cycle of

[1:43:16] the budget cycle

[1:43:19] taking control of RCG outside of the

[1:43:23] process of this committee. Or or if the

[1:43:25] budget cycle if it needs to go in there,

[1:43:27] then we need to be doing our work

[1:43:31] you know, a year ahead of time

[1:43:32] basically, so that it can then that

[1:43:34] we're the input to the budget cycle.

[1:43:35] But, whatever it is, like I think that

[1:43:38] this needs to be I think that this

[1:43:41] would be best for the community if this

[1:43:42] was an outlier year in terms of process.

[1:43:44] And I think it might be helpful for us.

[1:43:46] I don't know, I mean, obviously, I know

[1:43:48] that you understand the ins and outs of

[1:43:50] this. I don't know that every

[1:43:52] commissioner has thought about this in

[1:43:54] such detail. I believe that EAB links

[1:43:56] into the budget cycle, etc. And so, I'd

[1:43:58] like to

[1:43:59] you know, I think this is an opportunity

[1:44:01] we can take to have to make a statement

[1:44:02] to the rest of the commissioners

[1:44:04] >> That's when we start our budget process,

[1:44:06] you know. We start our budget process

[1:44:08] like in 2 months exactly for next year.

[1:44:10] So, you guys need to start thinking

[1:44:11] about what you would like to put forth.

[1:44:12] But, I think that that's great to I

[1:44:14] think that's I think that's a great

[1:44:16] recommendation to the commission to to

[1:44:19] sort of that way and that way it does

[1:44:20] give you guys time next year to figure

[1:44:23] out what you're doing with that RCG or

[1:44:25] actually gives a you know, you and

[1:44:27] Melissa working together the plans after

[1:44:29] you compile this information to go for

[1:44:31] what would be really beneficial to our

[1:44:33] community next year.

[1:44:34] >> Totally.

[1:44:35] >> You know, and just one more comment on

[1:44:36] the general plan. So, the general plan

[1:44:37] is all based on the fact that we signed

[1:44:39] a strategic plan and we have no

[1:44:41] strategic plan. So, you have this whole

[1:44:42] general plan that's written saying that

[1:44:44] we we have a strategic plan and we

[1:44:46] don't. Very it's very interesting. When

[1:44:48] you read that whole thing, you're just

[1:44:49] like, "Whoa." When she's telling me that

[1:44:50] we have 127 things that we're supposed

[1:44:52] to be reporting on and I read it and I'm

[1:44:54] just like

[1:44:55] "Holy crap." I mean, most people

[1:44:57] probably never read the general plan and

[1:44:58] don't know what's in there. And and

[1:45:01] it's going to take a lot to change it.

[1:45:03] It's not going to just take this board

[1:45:04] >> Oh, no, I'm not saying this board.

[1:45:06] >> that we're working on. But, but it is

[1:45:07] it's very interesting. So, I mean, I

[1:45:09] challenge you all to read it. It's such

[1:45:11] fun reading.

[1:45:12] Um

[1:45:13] >> So,

[1:45:13] >> plan

[1:45:14] >> I I just

[1:45:15] I guess what I'm getting at now, ladies,

[1:45:16] like I just feel like

[1:45:19] you know,

[1:45:20] there's a like something would be made

[1:45:23] like I'm not saying the general plan,

[1:45:25] but like I I don't know. I just feel

[1:45:27] >> I want

[1:45:27] >> a strategic plan.

[1:45:28] >> Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[1:45:28] >> I want a strategic plan. Yes, I do. That

[1:45:30] you know, that's what Maybe that would

[1:45:32] be something that we work on, but we can

[1:45:33] barely get through these meetings in 2

[1:45:34] hours and talk, you know, so

[1:45:36] >> We just canceled the last two meetings,

[1:45:38] so

[1:45:39] >> We didn't cancel two. So, maybe we don't

[1:45:40] cancel anymore. And you know, I mean, we

[1:45:42] mentioned that

[1:45:42] >> This board could make a draft strategic

[1:45:45] plan.

[1:45:46] >> Yeah. Well, maybe. I'm not so sure that

[1:45:47] we have the capacity to like without

[1:45:49] staff that be playing a huge role in

[1:45:51] that.

[1:45:52] >> Well, you can

[1:45:53] >> That would be

[1:45:54] We can do that.

[1:45:56] >> So, yes, I agree.

[1:45:58] >> You can make a general

[1:46:00] >> I just have a

[1:46:02] random questions as I've been listening.

[1:46:04] Um,

[1:46:04] cuz kind of on to your point, so

[1:46:06] thinking future and not saying wanting

[1:46:10] to do it for this one, but if we were to

[1:46:12] say like this is how we wanted to fund

[1:46:14] that budget knowing it goes into effect

[1:46:17] July 1st, like

[1:46:21] especially this year, what is the

[1:46:23] deadline for that?

[1:46:25] For saying this is how the money is

[1:46:26] going to be

[1:46:26] >> Well, this year the deadline for the

[1:46:27] application for RCG is the August 1st, I

[1:46:31] think. It's the end of our

[1:46:33] Wait, am I saying that right?

[1:46:35] Um, I had it up here. I have it right

[1:46:37] here. Um, opens July 1st, closes

[1:46:40] September 1st. So, that mean What that

[1:46:42] means that we have to work back a little

[1:46:43] bit from that because the commission

[1:46:45] needs to act on it

[1:46:46] before it can be submitted. And so, they

[1:46:49] need to take care of it in a meeting at

[1:46:51] some time in August. So,

[1:46:53] really our

[1:46:56] we if we want to make any recommendation

[1:46:58] that gets acted upon, it needs to come

[1:47:01] by our next meeting at the very latest,

[1:47:03] right? By our July meeting at the very

[1:47:05] latest.

[1:47:06] >> It has

[1:47:08] Maybe.

[1:47:08] >> You're saying is that Is that giving

[1:47:10] enough time even?

[1:47:11] >> No, because

[1:47:12] as we're backing it up,

[1:47:15] the close date is July 30th, yeah?

[1:47:18] And we have to

[1:47:19] >> September 1st. like 1st. Rural County

[1:47:22] grant closes September 1st.

[1:47:24] >> The application.

[1:47:26] We're putting it

[1:47:27] August 1st.

[1:47:28] >> I panicked for a minute because I was

[1:47:30] confusing the reporting with the date.

[1:47:32] >> Yeah, but the sooner you get it in, the

[1:47:33] sooner you get your money.

[1:47:34] >> Right, it's better for us to go early,

[1:47:36] of course, but but that is the deadline.

[1:47:39] >> So, it's

[1:47:41] it keeps coming back to we need a motion

[1:47:43] to support this budget.

[1:47:45] >> Well, I want to just say I'm not sure um

[1:47:48] I'm open to people's take on this, but

[1:47:50] this was set up I I think it should have

[1:47:52] been an action item. It was set up as a

[1:47:54] discussion item for this meeting.

[1:47:56] >> So, we should just

[1:47:56] >> I'm not sure. I think we really need to

[1:47:58] just wait till the next meeting to vote

[1:47:59] on it.

[1:48:00] needs to be set as an action item for

[1:48:02] next meeting.

[1:48:04] >> But, that won't cause any problems?

[1:48:05] >> Well, I think because the calendar is

[1:48:08] September 1st, I mean it's a little bit

[1:48:10] tightish, but it it's feasible.

[1:48:13] >> I mean, the least we can do is support

[1:48:14] the license problems.

[1:48:16] >> She needs a new stapler.

[1:48:18] >> [laughter]

[1:48:21] » She needs to go to the trainings I sent

[1:48:23] her that she needs to go to.

[1:48:26] >> All right.

[1:48:27] >> I mean, I think that

[1:48:28] the the reality is is that right now

[1:48:30] outside of the RCG, Melissa's operating

[1:48:33] a department with no budget. I mean,

[1:48:35] it's like we, you know, if we don't if

[1:48:37] we don't support her with this RCG

[1:48:39] funding for this year, then we're asking

[1:48:41] her to accomplish something without

[1:48:43] anything. That's very hard to do.

[1:48:45] >> I agree. So, okay, we're just going to

[1:48:47] Sorry, go ahead.

[1:48:49] >> I just want to say we'll reimburse you

[1:48:50] for what you've paid out of pocket.

[1:48:52] >> Yeah, but I really like what I'm doing.

[1:48:55] I love what I'm doing.

[1:48:56] >> And the thing is she's worth way more

[1:48:57] than what she's getting. For example,

[1:48:59] you know, like a dashboard. So, a

[1:49:01] dashboard's like $10,000. I mean, we the

[1:49:04] county gave the housing dash $10,000 to

[1:49:08] create a dashboard. Melissa created the

[1:49:10] dashboard. The housing

[1:49:12] still has the $10,000, but Melissa

[1:49:14] created it. So, you know,

[1:49:16] that's the thing is like

[1:49:18] the value that she has is way more than

[1:49:21] what we're paying her.

[1:49:22] >> Yeah.

[1:49:23] >> And what she's going to spend the money

[1:49:24] on is going to be valuable as well. And

[1:49:26] she's going to bring in portals to you

[1:49:27] guys. You're going to know what the

[1:49:28] money's being spent on. And it's not

[1:49:30] going to be on just generic reporting

[1:49:31] that is not valuable. You know,

[1:49:34] she's a she'll get the value out of it.

[1:49:36] Now, if we have somebody else in the

[1:49:37] position, that might not be the case.

[1:49:39] But right now, we have a really really

[1:49:41] amazing staff, and she can do a lot with

[1:49:43] a small budget. And I appreciate you

[1:49:44] guys being willing to do be a capacity

[1:49:47] building year and come forward with

[1:49:49] those ideas for the future of what you

[1:49:51] think you want them, but we still have

[1:49:53] the RCOG is going to come next.

[1:49:55] >> So, let's can we turn to that real

[1:49:56] quick? Just We we only have 15 minutes

[1:49:58] left, and I just wanted to we just

[1:50:00] wanted to tee up some RCOG stuff because

[1:50:03] we do need to be getting the ball

[1:50:04] rolling on that. Um

[1:50:06] and since we can't act on RCG, so we'll

[1:50:09] put this this conversation will come

[1:50:11] back up the next meeting, and we'll it

[1:50:12] will require a vote.

[1:50:14] >> What's up? Was there something Is there

[1:50:17] something I'm supposed to share for the

[1:50:17] RCOG?

[1:50:18] >> Okay.

[1:50:20] >> So, yeah, what we talked about at our

[1:50:22] last meeting, Melissa mentioned that she

[1:50:24] had some ideas swirling on what

[1:50:26] potential RCGs would be. So, we wanted

[1:50:28] to tee that up with just a short

[1:50:30] conversation now so that we can start

[1:50:32] getting thinking about what needs to

[1:50:33] happen to for this board to, you know,

[1:50:37] put forward a recommendation within the

[1:50:39] next 2 months, basically,

[1:50:42] on an RCOG. And if there's other things

[1:50:44] that we want to bring to the table,

[1:50:45] etc., etc. So, with that, let me pass it

[1:50:48] back to you to get that conversation

[1:50:49] started.

[1:50:50] >> Okay. So,

[1:50:52] uh this is just general conversation.

[1:50:56] All the time being went into the

[1:50:57] reporting and the other stuff. So, we

[1:51:00] just don't have a lot of things for

[1:51:01] people to look at. But in general, as we

[1:51:04] start looking at industry and industry

[1:51:07] clusters, you know, to what Ashley was

[1:51:09] saying, there is no part of me with an

[1:51:11] economic hat on that says, "You know

[1:51:14] what I really think that we need to do

[1:51:16] is build industrial property and put in

[1:51:18] infrastructure so that we can

[1:51:20] accommodate light manufacturing." I feel

[1:51:23] like we are regionally isolated, being

[1:51:25] realistic about who we are and where we

[1:51:28] are and what really plays well for this

[1:51:31] community.

[1:51:33] It is unique to our area. We're not the

[1:51:35] rare bird that I think sometimes we

[1:51:37] would like to believe,

[1:51:39] but we are absolutely unique. So, as we

[1:51:42] look at, you know, where do we double

[1:51:43] down? Where can we place these

[1:51:45] investments? Yeah, the assets and the

[1:51:47] resources that you have, you don't get

[1:51:48] to go out and invent new ones

[1:51:51] just because we want to be able to

[1:51:53] create a diversification strategy.

[1:51:56] So, when I think about it, I think about

[1:51:58] it less in terms of diversification and

[1:51:59] more in terms of resiliency.

[1:52:01] So,

[1:52:03] we need to be more resilient by

[1:52:05] spreading out all of the eggs, and it

[1:52:07] doesn't mean that we need to go out and

[1:52:09] reinvent three different baskets that

[1:52:10] aren't necessarily a fit. Means that we

[1:52:12] have to work with what we have.

[1:52:14] So, in meeting with Commissioner

[1:52:16] McCandless and Jen Staley at the

[1:52:18] hospital, in looking at the last

[1:52:21] $250,000

[1:52:22] reports that we commissioned for an

[1:52:24] economic development strategy and plan

[1:52:26] that did get adopted,

[1:52:29] we know that health care and wellness

[1:52:31] have that adjacency to tourism and

[1:52:34] really leverage a lot of the same

[1:52:36] assets, which are Listen, this is a

[1:52:39] really beautiful place. If we double

[1:52:41] down on wellness within our community

[1:52:43] and what we have to offer and how that

[1:52:45] this is an outdoor recreation

[1:52:48] community, what are some of the assets

[1:52:50] that we have that are unique to us? One

[1:52:52] of the assets that we have that are

[1:52:53] absolutely unique to us is we have a

[1:52:55] level four trauma center. Other rural

[1:52:57] communities do not have that. So, to be

[1:52:59] able to have surgical suites, that's not

[1:53:02] something that you're going to find in

[1:53:03] most rural communities.

[1:53:05] So, when we look at clusters,

[1:53:08] being able to double down on healthcare

[1:53:10] and wellness is an industry cluster, and

[1:53:13] seeing if we can't start to measure and

[1:53:15] get some results, and try some things,

[1:53:18] and tweak some things, and see how those

[1:53:20] come out. Healthcare really feels like a

[1:53:23] good a good industry for us.

[1:53:26] In talking with the hospital, she is

[1:53:29] really working to recruit an orthopedics

[1:53:31] practice. So, some kind of a world-class

[1:53:34] orthopedics practice where, you know, we

[1:53:37] can have destination

[1:53:39] things like that are adjacent to that

[1:53:42] outside of an orthopedic practice, for

[1:53:44] example, could be elective surgery. This

[1:53:46] could also be a place where we could use

[1:53:48] those surgical suites and have some

[1:53:50] types of recovery centers.

[1:53:52] The other things that could be

[1:53:54] interesting around that are what kind of

[1:53:55] physical therapy can we have? So, would,

[1:53:58] for example, the TOSH organization in

[1:54:01] along the Wasatch Front be interested in

[1:54:04] having some sort of a destination

[1:54:05] practice here where the miles of

[1:54:10] paved trails that we have could be

[1:54:11] incorporated into physical therapy

[1:54:14] practice.

[1:54:15] So, that's one side of things. As we

[1:54:17] look at the economic mobility part of

[1:54:19] things, one of the biggest challenges

[1:54:20] for economic mobility that's hitting

[1:54:22] Grand County really hard is that if you

[1:54:25] are a transplant from outside,

[1:54:28] you are increasingly making a higher

[1:54:32] income and having economic mobility. If

[1:54:34] you are a person who lives here, has

[1:54:37] resided here long-term, or were born

[1:54:39] here,

[1:54:40] your chances are pretty abysmal. So, how

[1:54:44] do we say we're going to cultivate

[1:54:46] workforce or create opportunities for

[1:54:49] people who are living here currently

[1:54:53] that would map to those types of

[1:54:54] opportunities that come in. So, one of

[1:54:57] the things that we would be really

[1:54:59] interested in trying

[1:55:01] is doubling down and partnering with EDC

[1:55:04] Utah and doing a lot of work around

[1:55:07] crafting a profile for Grand County that

[1:55:09] says, if you are doing rural

[1:55:11] healthcare research, if you are doing

[1:55:14] rural aging research, if you are

[1:55:17] interested in destination or the Peds,

[1:55:20] or elective surgeries, or any of these

[1:55:22] types of things,

[1:55:24] we have an amazing airport with daily

[1:55:26] connection to Salt Lake City and to

[1:55:27] Denver.

[1:55:28] We've got a boatload of capacity in

[1:55:31] terms of built infrastructure for the

[1:55:33] visitation economy. We've got a level

[1:55:36] four trauma hospital that has surgical

[1:55:39] suites, has recovery capability.

[1:55:42] This is a perfect place for you to come

[1:55:45] and start your physical therapy

[1:55:46] practice, your

[1:55:49] elective surgery practice, your

[1:55:50] orthopedics practice. And what uh Jen

[1:55:54] had mentioned is once that orthopedics

[1:55:56] practice is in place,

[1:55:58] to be able to do that marketing and that

[1:56:02] advertising around now, how do we help

[1:56:05] you build your practice? How do we help

[1:56:07] you build your physical therapy

[1:56:08] practice? The thing that's really

[1:56:10] interesting about that approach is with

[1:56:12] USU, we also have an opportunity to

[1:56:14] train our workforce in conjunction with

[1:56:16] that. So, whether that's

[1:56:19] rural healthcare, aging, physical

[1:56:22] therapy,

[1:56:24] working as an aid, how do we map our

[1:56:27] programs to what we're trying to build?

[1:56:29] So, if we double down and we say these

[1:56:30] are the types of industry clusters that

[1:56:32] we're trying to attract, how do we

[1:56:34] develop our workforce at the same time

[1:56:36] so that our kids who are graduating from

[1:56:39] high school can go take those

[1:56:42] uh tourism jobs, and they can get those

[1:56:44] cash tips, and all the things that are

[1:56:46] now luring into that, but they're also

[1:56:48] getting certificates, degrees, and

[1:56:51] building out skills at the same time

[1:56:53] that would help them develop a career in

[1:56:56] an industry that we're trying to

[1:56:57] attract. So, really high level with the

[1:57:00] time that we have,

[1:57:01] that's one of the things that would be a

[1:57:04] really interesting RCOG.

[1:57:06] One of the communities, and I can't

[1:57:08] remember, I want to say it wasn't Kane,

[1:57:10] maybe it was Garfield,

[1:57:12] was talking in our meeting last week

[1:57:14] that their RCOG is all about, "We don't

[1:57:17] want people to come and visit here.

[1:57:18] We've got enough visitors, we've got

[1:57:19] enough tourism, our TRT funds are taking

[1:57:21] care of that. What our concern is is

[1:57:24] that we don't have enough taxpayers as a

[1:57:25] property tax base. So, what we want to

[1:57:28] do with our RCOG, and I think they're in

[1:57:29] process, their commercial is like mostly

[1:57:32] produced now, they wanted to do a huge

[1:57:34] campaign about why this is a really

[1:57:36] great county to live. This is definitely

[1:57:39] >> in that sentence? Sorry.

[1:57:40] >> Garf-

[1:57:40] >> Garfield County.

[1:57:41] >> Oh, the county.

[1:57:42] >> Garfield, yeah. So, it's another county.

[1:57:44] >> right.

[1:57:44] >> So, ours would sort of be parallel to

[1:57:46] that, but instead of come and live here

[1:57:48] or whatever, it's this is the great

[1:57:49] place for you to come and do your

[1:57:53] research in this specific area. Like

[1:57:54] there have been a lot of

[1:57:56] uh a lot of New York Times articles

[1:57:59] recently around rural health care

[1:58:01] because of the funding that has been

[1:58:02] made available, and people are

[1:58:04] relocating to do research. They're

[1:58:06] starting all of these different

[1:58:08] projects. The interesting thing about

[1:58:10] Grand County is that we're kind of

[1:58:12] redefining rural because you can

[1:58:14] actually get great cocktails here, and

[1:58:16] you can go get a massage because of the

[1:58:17] tourism industry. We've got a lot of

[1:58:20] depth, we've got uh airport where you've

[1:58:23] got daily flights.

[1:58:25] Not every rural community that you go to

[1:58:27] is going to be able to offer those

[1:58:29] things or have those things available.

[1:58:32] >> So, I think these are good ideas. The challenge with this is always

[1:58:37] this is a government conversation, and

[1:58:40] what you're looking for is

[1:58:42] entrepreneurship. I mean, or or or

[1:58:44] business people who want to execute on

[1:58:46] these strategies. And I just wonder if

[1:58:49] we shouldn't be asking our business

[1:58:52] people more about what ideas they have

[1:58:55] and what they see as their opportunities

[1:58:58] to grow a business. I mean, when we

[1:59:01] created Outerbike, the whole idea was to

[1:59:03] bring the entire bike industry to Moab

[1:59:06] once a year. And um

[1:59:08] you know, that is that's

[1:59:11] that was just how we were growing that

[1:59:14] piece. And but and and in my dreams, it

[1:59:17] would have been some of those companies

[1:59:19] would have started doing some more R&D

[1:59:22] here. We were hoping Specialized was

[1:59:24] going to pay for a building at USU. Like

[1:59:26] there was a like next level commitment

[1:59:28] to the to it that would create jobs and

[1:59:31] bring all kinds of cool projects like

[1:59:33] that. And then the pandemic happened, so

[1:59:35] whatever, forget it. But but I think

[1:59:38] that like government can have ideas, but

[1:59:43] the business people in town have to

[1:59:45] actually be ready to execute on those

[1:59:47] kind of thing. So we it might be worth

[1:59:49] it we could even have

[1:59:52] just do a little outreach to see who's

[1:59:54] got ideas. Not like funding like these

[1:59:56] small businesses that we are trying to

[1:59:58] help, but what are the ideas? I mean, I

[2:00:00] don't know what Rebecca is doing all

[2:00:02] this stuff with local food and there's

[2:00:04] just other categories too that that

[2:00:06] could be really interesting that could

[2:00:09] um

[2:00:10] that we could have growth in and and and

[2:00:12] um expertise and along the lines of what

[2:00:15] you're saying. I think that's not a bad

[2:00:16] idea, but I think there might be others

[2:00:18] out there too that we could look at.

[2:00:20] >> I think that's kind of our job as board

[2:00:22] members, like is to be floating out

[2:00:24] there getting those ideas from people.

[2:00:26] And realistically, it's going to be a

[2:00:28] challenge to hatch a brand new idea and

[2:00:32] grow it to a robust proposal in 2

[2:00:34] months. So if we're talking about this

[2:00:36] cycle, you know, we want to make sure

[2:00:38] that we're I always think with these

[2:00:40] things like we want to make sure we're

[2:00:41] working with strong partners. Because in

[2:00:43] particular with these this grant, RCOG's

[2:00:45] like it's geared towards government,

[2:00:48] right? But, you know, the hospital would

[2:00:51] be I mean, it's largest employer in

[2:00:53] town, isn't it? Yeah. I mean,

[2:00:55] about as strong of a partner as you

[2:00:57] would get, right? So, if and I would

[2:00:59] definitely say this, only if Jens and I

[2:01:01] and the hospital want to partner with

[2:01:02] the county on a project like this,

[2:01:05] I think you've got a really robust group

[2:01:07] of partners at that point. And

[2:01:08] >> I agree. I'm just saying there's other

[2:01:10] things out there.

[2:01:10] >> But and we should be exploring them. I

[2:01:12] totally agree with that.

[2:01:13] >> because it will take us a year to find

[2:01:15] them and

[2:01:15] >> We should be cooking up some

[2:01:16] >> one's been kicking around for a little

[2:01:17] while, and it's a good idea, and it's

[2:01:19] the one teed up for now, and I think it

[2:01:22] has

[2:01:23] um potential. And so, if that's what we

[2:01:27] you know, and if they want to partner,

[2:01:29] then that's great. But I think there's

[2:01:30] others out there, too, that could be

[2:01:32] interesting and

[2:01:34] >> But also also keep in mind, you know,

[2:01:37] that it's that it's you're looking for a

[2:01:39] county project, right? Like that's

[2:01:42] something that you guys learned

[2:01:43] previously. You know, it's the actual

[2:01:45] county's project, not

[2:01:48] giving the money to or granting the

[2:01:50] money to another business. Or it's

[2:01:51] really their project that the county's

[2:01:53] funding, right? I think you guys are

[2:01:54] trying to move away from that and it be

[2:01:56] an actual county project that the county

[2:01:58] owns.

[2:01:59] >> Well, I I don't get that exactly,

[2:02:00] because the county's not going to hire a

[2:02:02] physical therapist. The county's not

[2:02:04] going to host

[2:02:04] >> How is it a county project? Do you want

[2:02:06] to And I guess we don't really have

[2:02:08] time, but

[2:02:08] >> Well, we can talk about that next time,

[2:02:09] but I mean,

[2:02:10] >> But that's But that's an important

[2:02:12] question, isn't it?

[2:02:12] >> Yeah, I mean, the county's supporting,

[2:02:14] like,

[2:02:15] it government is not business. Business

[2:02:17] is got to be independent.

[2:02:19] >> she's talking about like the government

[2:02:21] doing the advertising, right? Building

[2:02:24] the the like EDC, stuff like that. But I

[2:02:27] mean, I think that it really comes down

[2:02:29] It has to be a close partnership with

[2:02:31] the hospital. I mean, and so some of the

[2:02:32] funding might flow to the hospital,

[2:02:34] like,

[2:02:34] >> Well, yeah, that's why I'm a little bit

[2:02:36] confused about how they do it.

[2:02:37] >> a project run by the county.

[2:02:39] >> RFP, correct. So, like, you work with

[2:02:42] the hospital, right? It is a

[2:02:45] partnership. You're paying other people

[2:02:46] to do these things.

[2:02:49] But the county is who is paying the

[2:02:51] people and cultivating the partnership.

[2:02:54] To get the things done.

[2:02:55] >> like running point on the project.

[2:02:58] That's why we we need somebody at the

[2:03:01] We also, in addition to having like a

[2:03:02] strong outside partner like a hospital,

[2:03:04] we need to have a willing partner within

[2:03:06] the county government, right? To run

[2:03:08] point on a project like this. I mean,

[2:03:09] that's that's huge, too.

[2:03:11] But we're out of time.

[2:03:13] Um

[2:03:14] so, [laughter]

[2:03:15] I think I would say

[2:03:17] it's probably smart for us to come back

[2:03:19] to the next meeting with additional

[2:03:20] ideas for our COG, if you have them,

[2:03:23] because if this doesn't work out, right?

[2:03:25] Like we don't want to you know, if

[2:03:27] Jen says

[2:03:29] I really love this idea and I'm sorry,

[2:03:31] it's just not the year for us right now.

[2:03:33] Like then what are we going to do,

[2:03:35] right? I don't want us to be I would I

[2:03:36] would hate for us to be in a situation

[2:03:37] where that just means no application

[2:03:39] this year. So, I do think it's good for

[2:03:41] at least all of us to be thinking about

[2:03:43] other things. If there's something that

[2:03:44] might be even if it's a smaller project,

[2:03:46] you know, but like something.

[2:03:48] Um but either way, we're going to

[2:03:49] continue that conversation next time.

[2:03:52] >> You Can you know what would be really

[2:03:53] helpful? Is could you give examples of a

[2:03:55] county project that another county has

[2:03:57] done that absolutely fit this? Because I

[2:04:00] still am struggling

[2:04:01] >> innovation hubs. Like those stuff like

[2:04:04] that is like innovation stuff.

[2:04:05] >> were going to ask all the county

[2:04:07] institutions to throw us a proposal. I

[2:04:09] thought we were going to

[2:04:10] >> Oh, yeah, we did talk about it.

[2:04:11] >> Yeah, I was like, oh, cuz Ousta came. I

[2:04:14] thought like it was kind of that was the

[2:04:17] plan, but now I'm you know,

[2:04:20] that's where we're going. That's where

[2:04:21] we're going. I don't

[2:04:23] >> I thought that's what we talked about

[2:04:24] and then we didn't.

[2:04:25] >> Yeah.

[2:04:26] that's right. We had this idea

[2:04:27] that we were going to really make it a

[2:04:29] county project, like invest in the

[2:04:31] county, right? Like

[2:04:34] >> Yeah, I think that's the idea.

[2:04:35] >> I think we're we're kind of like

[2:04:36] institutions,

[2:04:38] you know, instead of like small business

[2:04:40] like businesses. It was like whatever I

[2:04:42] mean the hospital is kind of an

[2:04:43] institution.

[2:04:44] >> Yeah. But I thought it was like aren't

[2:04:46] there departments in the county that

[2:04:48] need more money that

[2:04:51] Actually, I think we were running

[2:04:53] through that idea and then it was kind

[2:04:54] of like well Melissa has all these

[2:04:56] things she should just

[2:05:01] » Exactly. That's exactly

[2:05:02] >> Like I think that's the trajectory.

[2:05:04] >> So am I to bring you examples next

[2:05:06] meeting? Is that an action item for me?

[2:05:08] >> That would I think that would be great.

[2:05:09] >> Not 10 like 10 next year too.

[2:05:12] >> Just like some time to us sooner because

[2:05:16] >> maybe it might be something to bring to

[2:05:18] the next meeting instead of like having

[2:05:20] it

[2:05:20] >> I mean one that really matters

[2:05:23] >> We're we're constantly trying to understand the legislature's

[2:05:28] intent.

[2:05:29] Like what is or the

[2:05:31] governor's intent.

[2:05:32] >> Right here there's three bullet points

[2:05:34] of what this funding is to be used for.

[2:05:37] >> Okay.

[2:05:38] But that's but we

[2:05:40] >> I mean a lot of it is like

[2:05:41] infrastructure stuff that's hard for us

[2:05:42] to how to translate it to here like I

[2:05:46] mean you could do site work site prep

[2:05:48] for like manufacturing, right? You know

[2:05:49] what I mean? Like that would fit really

[2:05:50] well in this scope.

[2:05:51] >> We have a massive amount of money but

[2:05:54] it's not the same.

[2:05:58] But I think we don't want to fund those.

[2:05:59] I don't know whatever we can talk more.

[2:06:01] >> We did a joint

[2:06:02] >> Okay. We did a joint we don't have to

[2:06:06] >> Actually you don't want one of these?

[2:06:08] >> I don't think so.

[2:06:09] >> I know you do.

[2:06:10] >> Oh.

[2:06:13] » Anybody else?

[2:06:15] State statutes?

[2:06:17] >> I have read it sometimes.

[2:06:18] >> State statutes anymore?

[2:06:20] >> Give me all the state statute you've

[2:06:21] got.

[2:06:21] >> So this one

[2:06:23] a light read. This one's a good one.

[2:06:24] >> What is that? Like where do you find

[2:06:26] that?

[2:06:27] >> You just you can just type in trail to

[2:06:28] tomorrow Grand County in the top. We're

[2:06:30] going to pull up.

[2:06:31] >> It is a It was a $150,000

[2:06:33] plan that was commissioned in like 2022

[2:06:37] maybe.

[2:06:39] And it was presented to the commission

[2:06:41] in 2024.

6.24.2026 EOAB Regular Meeting

Transcript