Commission authorizes staff to revise local jobs grant program after 10-year review

The Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 24 authorized staff to revise Indian River County’s local jobs grant program following a 10-year review that found limited uptake and programmatic barriers.

Economic development manager Doug Dombrowski reviewed the program’s structure and performance from 2016–2025, noting nine businesses were approved over the period and only two received partial payments. Staff cited issues that discourage participation: a multi-year reimbursement schedule (one‑third payments over three years), heavy quarterly reporting (up to seven reports annually), complex agreement calculations and weak short‑term return on investment for small businesses. "These programs should not be too complex for business participation and compliance," Dombrowski told the board.

Staff recommended keeping a performance-based reimbursement structure but simplifying and shortening compliance and reporting requirements and reviewing wage thresholds that determine grant eligibility. Commissioners asked staff to examine the county average wage threshold and consider alternatives to make the program more attractive to employers.

The board voted to authorize staff to revise the program and return proposed revisions to the Economic Development Council and the commission for adoption. The authorization requires follow-up work by Planning & Development and the county attorney’s office and does not itself change current agreements.