Economic Development grants awarded to local ventures

In an exciting evening last week, eight San Juan County businesses were issued giant checks from the SJC Rural County Grant at the San Juan County Business Basecamp.
The SJC Rural County Grant is a county-run grant program created to support the development and diversification of the local economy.
Grant funds are received from the state through the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity, and distributed to local businesses with the goal of supporting projects that develop or expand local businesses, provide workforce training and/or development, and improve infrastructure that directly supports business growth.
This year, the SJC Rural Grant Committee received 39 grant applications. The total grant funding requested was $1,100,746.32.
The grant committee had only $140,000 available and distributed the funds to eight SJC businesses across three funding tiers.
The first funding tier is for small or new businesses in need of seed money, equipment, and/or small improvement projects. Grant applications submitted at this level are awarded under $10,000 and require a 10 percent match from the business owners.
The first grant award in tier one went to The Over Bite in Monticello, who will invest in a much larger oven. This will allow them to provide more incredible sour dough bread to the community in significantly less time.
S&S Pro Construction, a general contractor in Monument Valley with simplify their onsite loading and unloading and tool organization with a new tool trailer.
Ticola Photography in Monument Valley is a new photography business and is looking to invest their grant award in better camera equipment.
Anahita Rising is a personal and professional development facilitator in Monticello. Owner Natalie Taylor did not share what she is using the grant funding for, but is excited for the honor.
The SJC Rural County Grant board received nine applicants for the tier one grant funding.
The second funding tier is for small to mid-sized businesses looking to improve their current offerings, expand, or renovate.
These projects often enhance Main Street visibility, revitalize existing commercial properties, or expand services that strengthen the local economy.
Grant awards are under $25,000 and require a 20 percent match from businesses.
The first grant award in tier two went to E’ Market, a convenience store in La Sal. The grant will help the store upgrade their gas pump payment equipment so the community will have access to fuel 24/7.
Glamping Canyonlands, a luxury campground located just east of the Canyonlands National Park, is excited to use the grant to add a communal and event space to their campgrounds.
There were 16 applicants for the tier two grant category.
The final grant tier, tier three, is for large business growth. This tier supports major business expansions, facility construction or upgrades, and projects that create new jobs or bring economic growth to the county.
Grants awarded until this tier must be under $60,000 and require a 20 percent match from the businesses.
The first grant awarded in the tier three category went to 4 Point Meat Processing in Monticello. They will use the grant for much needed improvements to their aging building.
Small Town Hub, a business education and development company in Blanding, will move forward with building a local commercial/commissary kitchen on Main Street.
This kitchen will allow food trucks, home-based businesses, and food fundraisers to have a safe, licensed, and commercially upgraded space to prepare, distribute, and store food.
The SJC Rural County Grant board received nine applicants for the tier three grant funding.
Grant recipients are required to show that their funding covered the correct expenses within a year of the award.
The SJC Rural County Grant board encouraged businesses who did not receive grant funding this year not to give up and apply for funding again next year.
Grant applications will open again this fall.
Congratulations to the 2026 grant recipients.