The Board of Supervisors agreed Tuesday to extend the Kings County American Rescue Plan’s small business assistance program through an official end date of Feb. 1, 2023, rather than starting on Dec. 31 of this year.
The decision came after District 2 Supervisor Richard Weil expressed displeasure with the program after County Administrative Assistant Karia Martinez broke down the money allocated to each city through the grant program.
With $6 million in state money available to the county to help small businesses with up to $25,000 in COVID relief funds, Hanford received $2.2 million, Lemur $1,020,000, Corcoran received $840,000, Avenal received $540,000 And $1,320,000 was accounted for in illegal areas. .
So far, the county has received 398 applications but has approved only 118 of them. The county awarded Avenal $9,674 to small businesses and Corcoran businesses received $210,000. Lemur businesses were awarded $281,000 and the county’s unincorporated communities received $123,000. Businesses in Hanford were helped the most with just $1.4 million awarded.
Martinez, whose staff is pleased with the program’s progress, requested that the board extend the program’s deadline to Dec. 31, rather than allowing the program to run its course with a Feb. 1 deadline.
“We’re happy with the process we’ve gone through and we’ve reached a point where all the applications have been reviewed and we believe the program’s goal is being met,” Martinez said.
However, the supervisor said, the idea of withdrawing the funding early was surprising, and expressed a need for it across the district.
“The program didn’t even get to Lemur because it wasn’t done right,” Will said. “Now go out and start looking at the numbers in Avenall and Corcoran, it’s a shame. No one in my district got any money … I’m mad at the position we’re in now in Avenall. There’s a need. There’s a need in Corcoran, there’s a need in Kettleman, I’m sure there’s a need in Stratford and Armona. Either they don’t know or there’s no effort to make them understand.”
Will said he could not vote to take the money off the table and suggested the program be allowed to run its planned course until Feb. 1. He also said that maintaining a deadline would allow each supervisor to communicate with the desk. Help their local representatives and chambers of commerce spread the word to local businesses about the remaining funds and solicit other businesses.
The meeting agreed to keep the program open until February 1.
In other business, for the first time in over a decade, Kings County High School will have a Friday Night Live Club. Supervisors voted to approve a $19,000 budget change to house the club at Corcoran High School. Once established the club will aim to reduce access to cannabis to young people in the community.
“It’s all youth and leadership in terms of how youth want to address substance use disorders and prevent them here in the community,” said Katie Ernst, assistant director of Kings County Behavioral Health.
The board is looking to extend the county’s contract with Paragon, a company that helps the county build federal relationships.
“The firm provides professional, federal advocacy on behalf of Kings County, which includes representing the county’s interests before Congress and federal agencies,” Martinez said. “Paragon has worked effectively with Kings County over the years to develop legislative and regulatory priorities to support strategic planning and advocacy to advance and protect the county’s interests at the federal level.”
The company, which has worked with the county for over a decade, has impressed the board so much that they are asking if they can extend their contract with Paragon from one to four years. Joe Curran, a Paragon representative, enthusiastically agreed that the partnership between the company and the county is strong and that Paragon would be willing to extend their contract.
The board recommended finalizing the contract for the next meeting to provide a contract for county employees with four-year terms and amendments.
In an ongoing effort to prevent the spread of Covid and other infectious diseases, the board approved a $1.2 million, 18-month contract with the California Health Collaborative (CHC). The CHC will provide the country with prevention services such as self-testing and access to vaccinations as well as community awareness.
“We are at the forefront of providing accessible testing, vaccines, as well as information,” said CHC representative Jennifer Ikedara. “That’s something we’re committed to continuing and strengthening in Kings County.”
The next Kings County Board of Supervisors meeting is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 9 a.m., with a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for 12 p.m.
