Allen County commissioners voted 2-1 to help Our Market move one step closer to opening a grocery store in Humboldt, putting an end to several months of debate and following a precedent established by aiding the start-ups of G&W Foods of Iola and Marmaton Market in Moran.
The commission will give Scott and Amy Welch, owners of Our Market, an $80,000 loan for the purchase of the grocery’s rack system, i.e. freezer and cooler equipment, with a loan forgiveness provision based on sales tax receipts.
The Welches estimate the county can expect to net $22,000 a year in sales tax revenues. If they do so across four years, the loan will be forgiven. The specific language — and what would happen to the loan if Our Market does not meet those goals — will be redacted into a pending economic incentive agreement between the Welches and the commission.
Commissioners Bruce Symes and Jerry Daniels supported the economic incentives, as Humbodt City Administrator Cole Herder and Thrive Allen County CEO Lisse Regehr looked on. Upon the measure’s passage, Scott Welch said, “Thank you, and I know the citizens of Humboldt thank you.”
Bill King voted against the measure, saying, “I’m sorry, I just can’t do it.” King noted several other communities in the county need assistance and also mentioned that county reserves are not as flush as in years past.
Reached after the meeting, King explained his decision further. “I want the Welches to succeed,” he said, “but I’m just being cautious. Timing is a bit part of it. Can the county afford this? Yes. I’m just being conservative and careful.”
King also said, “There’s another butcher shop in town that asked for money, and they were turned down. How can we turn that down and give it to another butcher? We didn’t give money to Mildred, either.”
King was referring to Bolling’s Meat Market and the Mildred Store, which both applied for economic development funding from a short-lived county committee formed to handle requests in 2018. Bolling’s Meat Market applied for $190,000, while the Mildred Store asked for $20,000. Neither King nor Symes were on the commission at that time.
Commission Symes, on the other hand, was quick to highlight the potential economic development benefits. He also referenced food deserts, understood as areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food.
“I think a food desert has a real impact on our county, not just Humboldt. When one of our communities suffers, the whole county suffers,” said Symes, adding, “When a young teacher is looking at USD 258, they’ll look at a lot of things, and whether or not there’s a grocery store will factor into that decision. There will also be sales tax revenues” that will benefit the county.
THE COMMISSION’S assistance to Our Market differs considerably from the help given to Marmaton Market and G&W Foods of Iola, in both scope and amount. G&W Foods of Iola received $180,000 while Marmaton Market was given $100,000. In neither of those instances did county commissioners make a loan, as they intend to do with Our Market.
Nonetheless, Scott and Amy Welch expressed their gratitude. “We’re very excited and will continue to push forward as planned,” said Amy Welch. “This was the last piece of the puzzle we’ve been waiting on, and we appreciate the support and help from the commission and the community with moving this huge project forward. We couldn’t be happier to do this for and with Humboldt.”
Herder was also upbeat following the commission meeting. “I’m really pleased with the outcome, and I think the community of Humboldt will also be pleased that the commission showed support,” said Herder. “And I’m sure the Welches will step up and offer a really great grocery store for Allen County residents.”
COMMISSIONERS and County Clerk Sherrie Riebel certified the results of the Nov. 3 general election. In Allen County, a total of 5,939 ballots were cast, resulting in a 67% voter turnout. Seventy-six of 139 provisional ballots were accepted.
The certification didn’t result in any changes in races, but commissioners did have to flip a coin to decide the winner of a position as Iola Township Trustee. Rodney Edson and Lonnie Larson entered Tuesday morning tied with two votes each, but the quarter landed heads up, resulting in a victory for Edson.
