MOUND CITY – Jessica Hightower, Linn County economic development director, updated the Linn County Commission at it meeting on Monday, March 27, on a grant that will be available for property owners in Linn County pending commission approval.
Hightower told the commissioners that the economic development committee has $5,000 set aside for the Sidewalk Grant program. In the past, the grants were only given to business owners and the sidewalks were only in commercial areas in front of their business.
She said the committee would like to extend the project to property owners, not just business owners.
There will be two grants of $2,500 available on a first-come-first-served basis. She explained that this is a partnership between the county, the city, and the property owner.
The city can apply for up to $2,500, the county will reimburse the project up to $2,500, the city will reimburse the project up to $2,500 and the property owner will be responsible for the leftover third and anything above $7,500 for the project.
She explained that it is a reimbursement grant, so the city deals with the property owner, and the property owner self reports when the project is done. The city then sends someone out to take pictures and submits paperwork to county economic development department. The county then pays the city, and the city disperses funding from there.
The city applies first and then asks for applicants. She said that two of the cities that she is aware of are trying to get sidewalks to their schools.
The commissioners unanimously approved the sidewalk grant program.
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