County Board Holds Special Meeting to Approve Grant Requests

The Schoharie County Board of Supervisors met Wednesday evening to approve several Community Renewal Fund grant requests before New York State's June 16th application deadline is reached on Monday. Twelve Supervisors were present for the special legislative session. 

Among several grant requests applied for, the $200,000 micro-enterprise grant was seen as a potential game-changer for local businesses. Limited to small businesses with five employees or less, Sarah Blood of the Schoharie County Economic Development Office said it was of, "priority status." 

If approved, the grant would be administered by the county with an emphasis placed on awarding funds to veteran and women owned businesses. The state has stipulated that 23% of contract funds have to go to veterans, so long as they're honorably discharged, women or minority groups.

Small business owners would be able to apply and receive anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000, with the caveat they are able to match the grant's funds. Schoharie County is not likely to hear the state's decision until October, which would place any announcements at or before election day.