Rural County Grant Program

The Rural County Grant (RCG) is administered through the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) as part of the Rural Opportunity Program, which was established under Utah Code Section 63N-4-802. This program supports rural Utah counties in creating and sustaining local economic development initiatives. Oversight is provided by the Rural Opportunity Advisory Committee, as stipulated in Section 63N-4-804, which collaborates with GOEO to manage the grant program and ensure alignment with state economic goals. The RCG seeks to empower county governments to take ownership of planning, implementing, and reporting on projects that improve economic conditions within their jurisdictions. The grant program is designed to support a range of economic development activities, specifically in the categories of business recruitment, development, and expansion; workforce training and development; and infrastructure or capital facility improvements related to industrial and commercial growth. Each rural county may receive up to $200,000 per fiscal year, contingent upon their compliance with prior reporting and other eligibility criteria. Importantly, substantial underuse of awarded funds across consecutive years may impact future eligibility or result in delayed disbursement of new funding. To qualify, counties must be classified as third, fourth, fifth, or sixth class under state population classifications and maintain a functioning County Economic Opportunity Advisory Board (CEO Board). Counties must also submit a comprehensive application and comply with all annual reporting requirements. Washington County is explicitly excluded from eligibility despite its third-class status due to the presence of a city with more than 100,000 residents. Applications must be submitted each fiscal year and include project descriptions approved by the county’s legislative body and based on recommendations from the CEO Board. Applications are accepted through an online portal once a county's annual report for the prior year is approved. The application must include organizational and contact details, a W-9 form, CEO Board documentation, an invoice, a detailed scope of work, proposed deliverables, success metrics, and both a narrative and itemized budget. Applications open on July 1 and close on September 1 of each fiscal year. Annual reports must be submitted by July 31. These reports must account for all previously used funds and assess the impact on job creation, infrastructure, and capital improvements. Only after these steps are completed may counties apply for new funds. Following the grant application review by GOEO staff and the Rural Opportunity Advisory Committee, approved counties will enter into a contract with the state. Funds are distributed upon contract execution and submission of an invoice. The grant contract aligns with the state fiscal year, from July 1 through June 30. Ongoing compliance with reporting, ethical conduct, and financial tracking is required throughout the contract term. The CEO Board must also remain active, meet public meeting requirements, and maintain representation from various stakeholders within the county. Questions regarding the Rural County Grant may be directed to the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity at business@utah.gov or by phone at (801) 538-8680. The office is located at 60 East South Temple, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1041. Resources such as training guides, templates, and reporting tools are made available to assist applicants with both reporting and application processes. The program is recurring and follows a predictable annual cycle of July 1 application openings and September 1 closures.

Submitting an incomplete application or failing to report on prior year usage may delay or disqualify funding. Substantial unspent funds from prior years may also delay new awards.