WHITE STONE—The White Stone Town Council will hold a second reading and public hearing on its proposed 2024 fiscal year budget on June 1. As proposed, the $242,512 budget includes an amendment to its donation and contribution line item.
According to finance committee chairman Ran Reeves, a proposed $2,000 contribution to the Triangle Trolley Program will now be allocated to a small business grant program. The Triangle Trolley will not operate this summer because of a lack of drivers, said Reeves.
Town manager Patrick Frere explained to council he had been contacted by owners of the Old Farm Truck regarding interest in a small business grant. Old Farm Truck has applied for the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development (AFID) grant through the Virginia Department of Agriculture. The program supports agribusiness and aquaculture projects, specifically those promoting locally-sourced products.
Old Farm Truck owners plan to expand their cold storage to be able to sell more local meat products, said Frere. They are hoping to match an anticipated $6,500 from AFID with their own funding, another grant proposal and $1,500 from the town….
