Commissioners Hear Eco Devo Update

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Grant County Economic Development Corporation has done a lot for the community, but several local government agencies such as the Ulysses City Council have expressed concern because they have not received updates.

Economic Development wants to change that.

Eco Devo board member Andy Cole presented at the April 14, Grant County Commission meeting and promised more transparency moving forward.

“What we are trying to do and what we will do, moving forward is provide updates to you as the commissioners and to the city council on what we’re doing,” Cole said. “We’re going to try to do that monthly.”

Cole gave the same 2024 update to the commissioners as David Norton provided to the Ulysses City Council March 26.

“We’re going to concentrate on increasing our communication,” Cole said. “That’s the goal for us for 2025.”

Cole highlighted the significant assists Economic Development provided to the community in 2024, including nearly $217,000 in loans to local businesses to either help them get started as gap money on grants they were seeking or for operating funds.

“We were able to do the 50-50 grant for the drug store and get them a new generator installed to help them keep their cold stuff cold if the power goes out,” Cole said.

Eco Devo is continuing the Business Revitalization program, which has gone to beautification projects over the past three years.

“As lot of businesses have taken advantage of that, so basically that’s another 50-50 proposition,” Cole added. “In 2022, there was just a straight grant for up to $10,000 for equipment purchase or exterior improvements, there were 17 applicants who took advantage of that, and we doled out $28,000 for it.

“In 2022 and 2023, it was just a thousand-dollar relief payment, you had to apply again, but there were 32 businesses which submitted those applications, so we handed out $1,000 in December of that year.”

Cole said, as an outsider coming from a larger community, he has been extremely impressed with what Economic Development does for the community.

“I firmly believe they are doing good and glad I’m on the inside now, so I can learn more about it,” Cole added. “Having that outsider’s perspective, I was really impressed. I had no clue what they were doing before I got on board, before you gave me this opportunity. Just listening to their track record and history of what they’ve done for businesses in this community is impressive.”

Commissioner Mark McGaughey said most in the community do not see that.

“They look outside and say ‘Well, you didn’t bring Walmart in (for) us, what are you guys even doing?’,” McGaughey said.

“Which really doesn’t have anything to do with Economic Development,” Cole responded. “I’ve heard that a few times and that’s not really what Economic Development is, and does.Our job is to get you what you want, so you come to us with that request.

“We help get you through the application process and help you connect to the people you need to connect to, he added.”

Commissioner Darrin Figgins said Eco Devo focusing on communication will help.

Cole said the office is open Monday-Friday, Bob Dale is the Executive Director and makes himself available, not just during business hours.

“We have some pretty good data collection points where we can actually look at economic outlook and spending habits,” Cole said. “If a business comes in and says ‘Hey I need some help with budget,’ Bob can help with that, help with writing grants, help putting business plans together. Those are all things that are part of the economic development umbrella he does on a pretty regular basis.”

Cole said for 2025, they have opened up applications for the 50-50 beautification grant and five or six businesses had already signed up by April 14.

“There’s a lot more people don’t know that Bob does, specifically, to help businesses,” Cole added. “He fields phone calls all day long from people who are potentially interested and then has to run down whether or not that’s going to be a viable solution. Just having that office open, having him in there being able to answer questions, especially for new business owners, is really important for people that want to, but maybe don’t know how, to get started.”

Cole said Eco Devo collaborated with the city and county on a housing project in 2024, which he said is moving forward, and another larger housing project is potentially coming in 2025 as they are trying to bring in more housing and grant money in.

“We’ll continue to assist with loans for businesses, and continue on,” Cole said.