Utah rural counties of the third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class are eligible to apply for the Rural County Grant. A rural county may receive grant funding up to $200,000 annually.
The Rural County Grant empowers rural county governments to manage their unique economic development opportunities and take responsibility for planning, projects, and activities that will lead to improved economies.
The grant addresses economic development needs, which may include:
- Business recruitment, development, and expansion
- Workforce training and development
- Infrastructure and capital facilities improvements for business development
Application Details
To qualify for a Rural County Grant, the county must form and have a functioning County Economic Opportunity Advisory Board (CEO board). Each CEO board advises the county legislative body to determine how the grant money will fund economic development projects and activities. The board also assists in applying for the grant and preparing required annual reports.
Proper annual reporting, providing accountability using grant funds, is a qualification for subsequent Rural County Grants. To qualify for a new fiscal year grant, a county must comply with annual reporting requirements from the previous year’s funding distribution.
Each county receiving the grant follows a two-step process that includes:
- Annual reporting
- Application for the new fiscal year grant
When Go Utah receives the county's completed annual report, the Center for Rural Development reviews it for compliance. Upon approval of the report, the county gets access to the portal through which it can apply for a new Rural County Grant.
Requirements for completing the annual report and instructions for applying for the Rural County Grant are listed in the resources section below.
Annual Report Submission Deadline: Sept. 1, 2022
Rural County Grant Application Deadline: Oct. 1, 2022
