San Juan County Commission approves grants for local businesses, and a letter to Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren

by David Boyle
News Director
Members of the San Juan County Commission approved $175,000 in Rural Grant Funds for local businesses. 
San Juan County Economic Development Director Elaine Gizler explained the funding was part of $200,000 granted to the county from the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO).
Members of the County Economic Development (CED) Board spent about eight hours going through applications from local businesses requesting $1.3 million in funds. Following the review 12 businesses throughout the county were recommended to receive some of the funds to go towards economic development projects.
As part of the program the commission also required that recipients of the fund sign a memorandum of understanding requiring at least a five-percent match of funds given towards projects, reporting requirements and a requirement that the business not be sold for three-years else the funds be returned.
Among the recipients were $25,000 for Abajo Lodge in Monticello to go towards their roof, $24,000 to Wolf Springs near La Sal for a Hobbit House, $23,500 for furniture and a deck at Canyon Smokehouse BBQ in Bluff, $20,000 for bathroom and fire system upgrades at Ja-Roen Thai & Sushi in Monticello. $11,250 for freezers, ice cream machine and sign at E’s Market in La Sal.
Gizler noted that the GOEO emphasized that the funds be spent in ways that would bring a return to the county.
“To not just to give the funds and not anticipate anything but, how can those funds help to bring back transient room tax, sales tax, employees.”
Gizler also said they’ll be asking for additional funds from the state in coming years.
Commissioner Sylvia Stubbs sits on the (CED) Board.
 “I think it was one of the hardest things to do, you see lots of dreams, lots of hope from people and then you have to make selections, (...) I’m glad about the communities that we have helped.”
Members of the county commission also approved a letter to Naavajo Nation President Buu Nygren requesting a meeting to discuss several topics. Commission Chair Jamie Harvey drafted the letter which included the following topics of discussion: 1. Cross Sharing of Governmental Data with One Another 2. Ways to Improve Policing Efforts for our Citizens 3. School Resource Officers 4. Navajo Nation Roads 5. Chapter Economic Development and Broadband Connectivity
In presenting the letter Harvey also mentioned they’d like to discuss the need to establish Child Protective Services workers in areas in the county, as Harvey says the state is funding that position for the nation, which needs to follow through on that hiring.
“This is an ask, in conjunction with delegate Curtis Yanito, he’s going to sign this and submit it in our behalf and he will work with his staff to schedule a meeting (...)  Ultimately I think this is needed and it’ll benefit our communities.”