Meaghan McFall at USU’s small business incubator SPARC is reaching out to San Juan County businesses regarding newly released USDA grants. The initiative aims to identify 15 businesses to help qualify for grant funding.
McFall has contacted San Juan County Economic Development and Visitor Services to highlight opportunities available through these USDA grants, which are applicable to artisans, existing businesses looking to expand, and startups.
For existing businesses with expansion plans, McFall is looking to determine if USDA grants can provide funding for growth. While the USDA brand is often associated with farming, the rural nature of San Juan County allows many different types of businesses to qualify for assistance.
In addition to expansion support, the program offers free training opportunities for existing employees. Available training through USDA grants may include bookkeeping, commercial drivers training and licensing, forklift operation and certification, and skid steer training. Currently, two programs at the USU campus offer $2000 worth of training at no cost.
Businesses in the mining or construction trades may also utilize these funds for OSHA 10-Hour Training for Construction and OSHA 10-Hour Training for General Industry to maintain compliance with state or local regulations. Other available courses include First Aid and CPR training.
Artisans and startup businesses are encouraged to contact McFall to discuss support for website development, upgrading, market development, and branding.
Meaghan McFall can be reached at USU’s SPARC via email at meghan.mcfall@usu.edu or by calling (435) 678-8102.
