COM 0184.010 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PROGRAM/BUDGET REVIEW PAGE 6 FY 1997-98 7. WHAT PROGRAMS OR SERVICES WOULD YOU LIKE TO PROVIDE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO SO? IF ANY, DESCRIBE. New Industry 1. As an economic development agency, we recognize that small business is the backbone of our economy. We would like to do more to assist those individuals who wish to start new businesses. The real need now is to give one-on-one attention to the unemployed, walking them through the step-by-step process of starting a business. Secondly, individual advisors to help the new businesses through the first 3 years are needed. To strengthen this effort a revolving loan program with low interest run by a group of loan officers/farm startups is needed. TOTAL COST OF PROGRAM: $20,000 2. Grant Seeker Program. The department of Research and Development collects information on grants available but does not have the manpower to review this information, collaborate with the other departments regarding grants and seek out additional funding sources. There may be the potential for the County accessing additional federal funds if the manpower were provided. TOTAL COST OF PROGRAM: $25,000 Agriculture Agriculture is identified as one of the sources of non-point source pollution in our waters. As a result, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced stringent regulations to minimize the impact of agricultural activities to the environment. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had a cost-share agricultural conservation program to restore and protect our land and water resources and preserve the environment. The beneficiaries of the program are our small farmers. However, due to budget cuts at the federal level, the program was eliminated. A similar program was instituted to replace it but the beneficiary are large farmers. According to NRCS, they have a long list of small farmers applying for the cost-sharing agricultural conservation program.