A grant through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is helping local businesses to expand. The Rural Fast Track Grant program offers businesses a state reimbursement on expansion projects for up to a $50,000 dollars of matching funds with the expectation that they will hire one new full time employee. Two businesses in Uintah County took advantage of the program last year, explains Economic Development Director Sylvia Wilkins, and 2 or 3 more are in the process of applying so far this year. One thing that has helped local businesses qualify has been a temporary adjustment to the new employee pay scale outlined by the state. Uintah County was able to qualify for a temporary adjustment last year due to the struggling economy. The Uintah County Commission signed the application to request that adjustment from the state for another year during Monday’s Commission meeting. The Commissioners spoke highly of the program and its ability to give local businesses a much needed boost while providing more local jobs.
