MOUNT VERNON — On Monday, Mount Vernon City Council gave the OK to City Engineer Brian Ball to apply for $20 million in USEPA grant funding.
The grant is an environmental justice grant through the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The Inflation Reduction Act Community Change Program funds the grant.
“The thing to remember about federal aid is every slice of federal aid has a different place where you can spend it,” Ball said.
The target area is south of High Street, extending into South Vernon and Clinton Township. It extends north to include City Hall and Public Square.
“The project list exceeds $30 million, so there will be some paring down. We will ask for the full $20 million,” Ball said. “Then if they sort of give us a line item veto, we can dial it back.”
Projects on the list include sidewalks in the target area on State Routes 13, 586, and 661.
Other projects include ecological and upstream restoration of Beams Lake, waterline extension in the Fairview subdivision, the new municipal courthouse, and railroad siding reconstruction with the Central Ohio Farmers Co-op.
The rolling grant application is open now and runs through Nov. 21.
Council members waived the required three readings and passed the resolution to apply as an emergency.
USEPA grant details
Kenyon summer intern Emily Ewing explained the USEPA grant to council members. The grant is designed to address needs specifically related to climate and the environment in disadvantage communities.
Projects approved will address needs such as the following:
•Reducing or preventing pollution
•Building resilience to climate change/mitigating future climate risks
•Enhancing government processes related to environmental justice
•Expanding access to jobs or economic opportunity
•Bolstering community strength and involvement with investment benefits
Ewing said the grant, which requires no cost sharing or match, has two tracks.
“We would apply under Track 1, Community-driven Investments for Change,” she said.
Under Track 1, the EPA expects to fund approximately 150 grants of $10 million to $20 million. Awards will not exceed $20 million.
The USEPA grant requires a partnership between a lead applicant (the city and Clinton Township) and a community-based nonprofit organization. Other entities can also collaborate.
Once the EPA awards the grant, the lead applicant has three years to complete the projects.
If the city scores well on the written application, the EPA will invite city officials to give an oral presentation and provide more information on the application’s community aspects.