Morgan County awards $58,952 in economic development grants to local businesses

Morgan County is giving close to $60,000 to several local businesses to help them grow.

Each year the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity gives Morgan County $200,000 for economic development, and for the last several years the county commission has designated $50,000 for small business grants, City Manager Kate Becker told the county commission at its June 18 meeting.

Recommendations for 2024 grant funding was made by the Community Economic Opportunity Board. Eight local businesses with nine applications received funding; several were also grant recipients last year.

They are:

Mountain Green Aviation Services Provider

The company has built a hangar at the airport to provide aircraft maintenance to airplanes using the airport. Requested funds will be used to purchase tools for two (yet-to-be-hired) aircraft mechanics. Mountain Green Aviation requested $10,000; it was approved for an $8,000 grant.

Scotsman Center

This is a community center that offers horse boarding, riding lessons, livestock shows, dog training, self-storage, RV Parking and community events. Scotsman Center would like to add a farmer’s market and requested $6,600 to be used to market and advertise the center and its farmer’s market. It will also be used to employ high school-aged youth and others to work the farmer’s market and other events. The owners intend to invite Morgan County businesses to attend the farmer’s markets and grow their businesses. Scotsman Center was approved for a $6,600 grant.

Milk Barn Creamery

A successful creamery on Commercial Street, Milk Barn Creamery requested $4,352 to expand distribution of ice cream products to wholesale customers and catering events. Milk Barn Creamery was approved for a $4,352 grant.

Shirts to a T

An embroidery/screen printing business, Shirts to a T requested $5,000 to partially cover the cost of purchasing new equipment. Shirts to a T was approved for a $5,000 grant.

Higbee Honey/ Davinci LLC

Higbee Honey requested $10,000 to help raise awareness of its Morgan shop, increase in-store and online sales and hire more employees. This growth is expected to increase sales tax revenue in Morgan County. Higbee Honey was approved for a $5,000 grant.

Mountain Green Gym

This company has gyms in both Morgan and Mountain Green. The owner applied for $15,000 to purchase mountain bike training machines at the Mountain Green site. This purchase is expected to increase revenue and provide training opportunities for the local mountain bike team. The total project cost is $58,000 and it is expected to bring in a projected $12,000 per month in revenue. The Mountain Green Gym was approved for a $15,000 grant.

The Weight Room. 

The Weight Room requested $5,000 to help purchase new equipment to provide more movement and muscle growth to their customers seeking strength and conditioning. The Weight Room was approved for a $5,000 grant.

Spencer W Young Revocable Trust/Young Dodge

Spencer W Young Revocable Trust/Young Dodge applied for $5,000 to start a bedliner operation for trucks at Young Dodge. The addition of bed liner installations was expected to result in new jobs and attract new customers. Spencer W Young Revocable Trust was approved for a $5,000 grant.

Spencer W Young Revocable Trust requested $5,000 to help fund a new Black Box facility, an 18-bay, offsite center, associated with the Ford store which will service larger vehicles, including F550, F650 and motor homes. Sixteen of the bays will be utilized by the dealership and two bays will be donated to Morgan High School to revamp their automotive courses. Spencer W Young Revocable Trust was approved for a $5,000 grant.

Morgan Gym, Shirts to a T and Higbee Honey received small business grants in 2023.

Beyond the small business grants, Morgan County has $98,000 in its economic development fund which GOEO has approved dispersal of to help cover the cost of getting the East Canyon Dome project constructed, Becker told the county commission that evening.