HOUGHTON — The Houghton County Board gave county Administrator Ben Larson the go-ahead this week to begin exploring a new gift-giving initiative for the county.

Larson sought approval to launch fundraising activities and create short- and long-term gift funds for the county. An experienced fundraiser at his previous job at Michigan Technological University, Larson named a gifts fund as one of his priorities upon being hired for the administrator position last August.

The fund would allow both for direct gifts and for donations made through estate planning, Larson said in a memo to the board.

The county’s auditors, attorney and the state Department of Treasury have said it is allowable, Larson said.

“We did have one of our concerned citizens from Hancock that bought a bunch of flashlights for our sheriff department so they have safe nighttime investigations,” he said Tuesday. “I think that’s really cool. I think there’s a lot of people who would have passion to make a gift to the county, possibly.”

Larson will now research the issue and draft policies for accepting funds and spending the money. He expects a resolution to formally launch the initiative to be ready for the board’s consideration by June or July.