Barton County Commissioners approved one Economic Development Revolving Loan Fund (EDRLF) request Tuesday but tabled two others in order to give businesses more time to submit an application.
The board approved $25,000 in grant funds to First Class Auto Design in Hoisington to insure that two full-time equivalent jobs would be retained as a result of the grant. On May 11, the business had been authorized for a low interest loan in that same amount. On May 18, the Kansas Department of Commerce determined that the EDRLF could be used as grant funding and First Class Auto Design changed their request from a loan to a grant.
There were two other grant requests on the agenda Tuesday but the board voted to table those requests at the urging of Commissioners Jennifer Schartz.
“It would make me feel better if we had all of the applications so we can give them all equal consideration so that we don't run short on grant funds,” Schartz said. “I would be in favor of setting a hard deadline on those applications.
Rodeway Inn and Suites in Hoisington had requested $50,000 for a working capital grant and Industrial Services of rural Great Bend had requested $5,000.
Sue Cooper, Barton County grant coordinator, says she expects to have two more requests ready for Commissioners at the June 2 meeting. But the board voted to table those requests because they feared that all the money would be gone before other businesses had a chance to get their applications in. Cooper didn't know how many more requests would be submitted since the guidelines to receive the grants are very strict.
“Initially people might think that we are just giving away money and that is simply not the case,” Cooper said. “These businesses that provide applications have to be eligible. They have to meet very strict low to moderate income qualifications. It's not easy to find lenders and grantees for this money.”
Commissioners set a hard deadline of this Friday, May 29 to have new applications submitted. Businesses are urged to call Great Plains Development at (620) 227-6406 for further details, eligibility requirements, and to complete the application.
The grants are available for small businesses in Claflin, Ellinwood, Hoisington and rural Barton County.