Economic development grants: $15,000 farm signage award and $100,000 sewage feasibility study

Meigs County officials reported two economic-development grants: a $15,000 award intended for farm signage and a $100,000 feasibility grant to study adding sewage to the county's industrial area.

Speaker 4 announced, "we got a signed grant to do farms...It was a $15,000 grant," and explained the economic development board applied with help from the development district. Speaker 4 described the larger award as a feasibility grant, saying, "What they got was a $100,000 grant to look at how feasible and to do a study for adding sewage to the industrial world." The study will estimate costs and determine whether local utilities can accommodate an expansion; if results are favorable, the county expects to apply for construction funds to extend sewer service.

Commissioners said the feasibility study is a prerequisite for the state to approve construction funding, and they emphasized that the study's findings will inform any subsequent grant application. No construction funding was approved at this meeting; the commission recorded the grants and discussed next steps for applying for additional money if the study supports extension of sewage infrastructure.

Routine zoning and board receipts were discussed in the same agenda section, and commissioners noted community support requests (including local fundraising for a resident battling illness).