With the projection of 150 jobs in the first year that will grow to number in the thousands, the Carbon County Commission has approved a resolution to provide support and a monetary contribution in conjunction with a U.S. Economic Development Administration Grant. The approval of County Resolution 2017-6 came during the regular commission meeting of July 19.
County Economic Development Director Tami Ursenbach told commissioners, “The grant will help bring several businesses into the JC Penney building.” She said Carbon County will not be the applicant and administrator of the grant, but Carbon and Emery County will be support and co-applicants. The actual applicant is FutureINDesign, a nonprofit corporation.
The grant is in the amount of $1.2 million. During the commission meeting Ursenbach said, “The match that we have right now is just over $1.4 million.” She said the match was met through private donations to FutureINDesign.
The resolution notes that whether a company receives an EDA grant may to some extent be based upon the amount of support the local community shows toward the business seeking to establish itself in the community.
Deputy County Attorney Christian Bryner recapped the terms of the resolution prior to the vote on a motion to approve. He summarized, “You have agreed to match grant money that might be received by FutureINDesign in an amount up to $10,000 each year for the first three years that they receive their E.D.A. Grant.”
According to its website, FutureINDesign (FIND) provides education and technology for teens and young adults marginalized by socioeconomic forces. The website states that marginalized youth lack access to the tools needed to enter into the design and tech industry, and FutureInDesign bridges that gap. FIND’s mission is to narrow the digital literacy gap in Utah through immersive training in key technology and life skills.
Founder and CEO Nicolina Womack said the grant application would be submitted on the day following the commission meeting. She said, “We are working closely with Trent Thompson (EDA Regional Administrator). We are working with them to look at tax incentives for companies that are locating here and also tax incentives for the companies when they have to train individuals.”
‘Opportunity Hub’
The facility will be called the “Opportunity Hub,” and is expected to be up and running sometime is September. It will serve as both a job training center and a business incubating center for tech companies in Utah. There are nearly 5,000 tech companies in the state, and 90 percent of emerging jobs and careers require skills in technology, design, science, finance and communications.
Calls to FutureINDesign were not returned, but Ursenbach said the nonprofit organization will work with the school districts, businesses, the CARE Coalition, the Circles program, and others to refer and recruit students for training. There will be 25 students per class, and the first class is scheduled to begin in January.
The facility could also be considered a mini mall and office complex. Ursenbach said other anchor tenants include Accelerant, and HealthEquity on the main floor, and Blacksmith International, an advanced manufacturing company, downstairs. Plans also call for a movie studio, an internet cafe, and food service.
Ursenbach said more information will be available at a press conference scheduled for August 9. “I’m excited to have it come to this point,” she concluded.