Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: CD - Community Development

Directors' Update: TBD

Business Meeting: Oct. 4, 2022

Summary:

Authorize application for the Federal Reconnecting Community Grant from the US Department of Transportation, commit local matching funds and assign the Director of Community Development as the Authorized Representative

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the US Department of Transportation in July 2022 announced the Reconnecting Communities Pilot, which is intended to fund planning and construction projects that reconnect communities by removing, retrofitting, or mitigating highways or other transportation facilities that create barriers to community connectivity, including to mobility, access, or economic development (Exhibit A, Notice of Funding Opportunity); and

WHEREAS, Highway 12 in Packwood, Wash., is a transportation facility that creates a barrier to community connectivity, mobility and economic development; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County is an eligible applicant and the Packwood Corridor Plan (Exhibit B, Project Narrative) is an eligible planning project; and

WHEREAS, the project period is 24 months, beginning at the execution of the grant contract, and costs will be incurred over that period; and

WHEREAS, Community Development will be seeking eligible funding to offset the local match, and eligible funding includes state grants, philanthropic funds or private funds (Exhibit A, Notice of Funding Opportunity).

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the Lewis County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) authorizes the Director of Community Development to sign said grant application on behalf of Lewis County; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BOCC commits to funding 20% of the total project budget, $300,000 (Exhibit C, Project Budget), through matching funds and staff time over the 24-month project timeline.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 4th day of October, 2022.