Council members including Hannah Jaroszynski, Brent Sheldon, Jeremy Engquist, Russ Bonfiglio and Andrew Faulkner listen as Doug Scotchmer discusses a grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission for a new JLDC loan program. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

The city is looking to create a new loan program through the Jamestown Local Development Corporation. Funding for this new program would come through a grant the city is applying for with the Appalachian Region Commission, known as the Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative, and officially applying for this grant was discussed at the most recent city council work session.

The resolution to support the application was first discussed by the finance committee, and Councilman Doug Scotchmer, D-Ward 4 and chair of the finance committee, brought it before the work session, saying that the full amount the city is applying for is $1,500,000.

“We had submitted a letter of intent on May 22nd and were invited to submit a full application that will be due July 8,” Scotchmer said.

City Development Director, Crystal Surdyk, added to that, saying it is to add more funding into the JLDC, to be made available for revolving loans to help boost the funding available. A question was raised if there was a connection between this application and the classes that Mayor Kim Ecklund and Deputy Director of Development Kasie Foulk went to, which were said to be related and yet unrelated.

“Part of the Appalachian Regional Commission is to get more engagement and involvement in the grant processes through them,” Ecklund said. “And just for clarification, it is to create a loan fund through a grant. It is not a loan through the Appalachian, it is a grant we would receive to create a loan fund.”

The resolution supporting the city’s submission of the Appalachian Regional Commission Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization Initiative under their Access to Capital program was approved by the finance committee.