BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable County Commissioners recently approved a new council for distributing grant funds generated from the Cape and Islands specialty license plates.
The Cape Cod Economic Development Council, which administers the grants to support economic development and tourism, was recently restructured to allow oversight by county officials.
The council will award grants to non-profits and other organizations with before being approved by the County Commissioners.
“This board is going to be the final decision of who gets these grants,” said Leo Cakounes, the chair of the County Commissioners.
The Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates will vote on the approval of the new council at its meeting next Wednesday.
“We tried to make a framework for grants as simple as possible,” said Jack Yunits, the county administrator.
Cakounes said recruiting is underway to fill positions on the restructured council.
The restructuring of the council led to the resignation of its chairperson Felicia Penn.
Penn, who had been a member on the council since its inception in 1998, said the restructuring was a “money grab” by county officials.
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