Agenda - 09-01-20; 8-a - Minutes

Browse Search

19 1 John Roberts said yes the Board can give out money to non 501-c-3s, and this has 2 been done before with the Piedmont Food and Agricultural Processing (PFAP) Center. 3 Travis Myren said his intent was for applicants to sign a contract, and therefore be 4 legally accountable for the result. 5 Commissioner Dorosin said if the BOCC can give money to a non-profit, as said under 6 state law, this should be made very clear to potential applicants, as that process is quick and 7 easy. He asked if being a non-profit under state law should be required for people to apply, as 8 there is some value in having an entity be legally responsible. 9 Commissioner Greene said the committee imagined a group coming together with a 10 wonderful idea, which gets funded, and staff wanted to insure that the group is legally obligated. 11 She said she would push back on the idea that one needs to be a legal entity prior to applying 12 for funding, because if funding is not awarded, the efforts would have been for naught. 13 Commissioner Dorosin said the document says it has to be a non-profit. 14 Commissioner Greene said it can be a small business, up to $3 million a year. 15 Commissioner Dorosin said the document does say that, but $3 million seems pretty 16 high for a small business. 17 Commissioner Greene said this standard was used, as it is the same standard that is 18 used for the small business loan and grant program. She said it seemed high to her too, and is 19 open to suggestions. 20 Commissioner Dorosin said it would seem odd that a business with gross revenue of up 21 to $3 million would need this type of grant. 22 Commissioner Bedford asked if it would work to continue the weatherization program, 23 and would that mean a department could put in for additional funding for their program. 24 Commissioner Greene said yes. 25 Travis Myren said yes, the intent is for funds to not go to projects that are already 26 funded through the CIP already. 27 Commissioner Bedford suggested leaving the $3 million threshold for now, to see how it 28 works. 29 Commissioner Price said the $3 million number was just to offer consistency with 30 existing programs. 31 Commissioner Price referred to the wording in the scoring process, paragraph 3: "the 32 Commission for the Environment (CfE) may consult with other experts or advisory boards on 33 any and all applications for the purposes of diversity and inclusion...," and said she wants this 34 language to be stronger. She said she wants language that says, "in the event that the CfE 35 lacked diversity the CfE shall consult other experts and advisory boards, such as the Humans 36 Rights and Relations Commission". 37 Commissioner Marcoplos said the County is going to learn a lot during this next cycle, 38 and he would recommend waiting and reviewing the process next year, if need be. 39 Commissioner Dorosin said the BOCC is creating something new and making changes 40 is no less baked than anything that already exists. He asked if anyone knows why the $3 41 million is the threshold for the grant and loan program. 42 Gary Donaldson, Chief Financial Officer, said the $3 million number is a carryover from 43 the Economic Development small business loan program. 44 Commissioner Dorosin asked if this number was picked for any particular reason. 45 Gary Donaldson said that happened before his time, and he can get him the information 46 as to why this number was chosen arbitrarily. 47 Chair Rich said the BOCC could come back to amend the process, if need be. 48 Commissioner Dorosin said given the priority being placed on social justice and racial 49 equity, the BOCC may want to target smaller businesses. He said he appreciated the work his