By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

After deducting $35,000 for food banks and feeding programs and $15,000 for the grant’s administrators, $117,000 of a $165,000 grant the county received last week will be available to businesses.

The county decided Monday to accept applications from throughout the county June 12 to July 2.

What businesses will get grants will depend on how many apply and what criteria the county sets.

Commissioners expressed concern that the grant would not be enough to provide much help to small businesses.

“Even if we don’t get all the businesses in the county at this time, I understand there is to be a second pool of money at some point,” said Michelle McDowell, grant administrator from the South Central Kansas Economic Development District.

Commissioner Kent Becker said businesses that received forgivable payroll protection loans should have lower priority than businesses that did not.

County counsel Brad Jantz urged commissioners to document their priorities.

He discouraged targeting specific types of businesses, such as food services, because it could appear to be discrimination.

“I’m just very thankful that Marion County has received some money to help the businesses,” county clerk Tina Spencer said.