If you were dependant on state generated handouts why wouldn't you go where you get the most money ?
It sounds like it was a good deal for everyone involved. The local taxpayers fund the only store in town, the store will continue to generate sales/property tax for the city. They will probably have to spend some money locally to upgrade the equipment and that will help keep their cost down into the future. Love it when a plan comes together.
And a whole lotta boaters are gonna not have to haul their supplies all the way from OC, LA, or the IE