An initiative has hit a stumbling block in terms of securing funding to continue toward their overall goal.

Greene County Development Corporation’s Nueva Vida en Greene County was waiting to hear on an US Department of Agriculture Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) grant that would provide $500,000 in funding to the initiative to attract the Latino population to work and live in Greene County. GCDC President Sid Jones recently told the Greene County Board of Supervisors at their regular meeting earlier this month that they were not successful due to misinformation. Jones said they were under the impression the grant was between $500,000 to $2 million, but there was a total of $2 million for over 180 applications. 

GCDC Executive Director Ken Paxton says while they are addressing the funding aspect for this initiative, they have been pushing forward with Latinos that are interested in the over 200 available jobs in the county to communicate with a company.

“To where they can call in, or text in, or email in to a central location and those people who are interested are then sent out to the major manufacturers or the people who have jobs listed with us. We have had some Latino hires in the community already (including) the hospital and a couple of other places. So there is some progress being made.”  

Paxton adds they are also applying for a state grant and are looking at other ways to receive additional funding, which could adjust how aggressive Nueva Vida en Greene County is in 2023.