Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file a presentation on the Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Rating;
2) Accept a grant award under the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Business Development Grant Program in the amount of $75,000 to fund a Bioeconomy Development Opportunity Zone Rating to attract bio-based businesses to the County;
3) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, to sign the Rural Business-Cooperative Service Financial Assistance Agreement between the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development and El Dorado County;
4) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, or Assistant Chief Administrative Officer, to execute any grant related documents including, but not limited to, amendments that do not change the dollar amount of the grant agreement (contingent on approval from County Counsel), requests for payments, reports, and all other associated documents necessary to secure the grant funds and implement the approved project;
5) Authorize the Chief Administrative Office to procure an appraisal for planning purposes for portions of the Sierra Pacific Industries site in Camino; and
6) Approve and Authorize the Chair to sign a Budget Transfer increasing Federal revenue and increasing Professional Services in the amount of $75,000 for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
FUNDING: Rural Business Development Grant Program funds.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The clean energy market encompasses a range of renewable and sustainable energy sources aimed at reducing the environmental impact and dependence on non-renewable resources. Biomass is a renewable energy derived from organic materials such as plants, wood, agricultural residue, and other biological sources. El Dorado County has a surplus of feedstock in the form of woody biomass in our forests that could be leveraged to attract ground/aviation biofuel and renewable bio-based economic development...
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