Allegany County staff to seek up to $1 million from Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation to build EDO capacity

Ashley Smith, the director of economic development, asked the Allegany County Ways and Means Committee on June 24 to approve a resolution authorizing her to apply for capacity-building and predevelopment funding from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation not to exceed $1,000,000. The county told the committee it anticipates receiving up to $500,000 on behalf of the newly referenced Advancing Allegany County Economic Development Organization (EDO) to support organizational startup activities, including onboarding additional staff and establishing operational capacity.

The request, as presented by Ashley Smith, specified that Allegany County would serve as the fiscal recipient and pass any awarded funds through to the EDO. Committee members moved and seconded the resolution during the planning and economic development referral and voted to approve the application authorization. The transcript records at least one member saying “opposed” during the vote but does not list a roll-call tally for the motion.

Why it matters: foundation funding for capacity building is intended to support staffing and operational functions that can make a new or restructured economic development organization viable. Approval of the application lets county staff seek the grant but does not guarantee an award; any award would require further appropriation and formal acceptance by the county.

Next steps: the committee’s vote authorizes staff to submit the application and act as fiscal agent; any award would be brought back to the county for formal acceptance and appropriation. The transcript does not record a timeline for grant submission or additional conditions tied to the application.