More stimulus funds available for City, County

Sixteen of Tennessee’s 95 counties will be eligible for a competitive grant of $17 million dollars, a representative of the South Central Tennessee Development District told the Hohenwald City Council last Thursday.  Tornado damage in 2008 was cited as the common factor.

Each county is potentially qualified for up to $1.2 million, up to $600,000 for each entity.  If one of the governments, either the City or County, does not apply, the other could be eligible for up to $750,000.

In a special called meeting of the Hohenwald City Council at 9 a.m. on November 19, 2009, Lorie Fisher-Braly, community development director for the SCTDD, provided information of the grant process to Mayor Don Jones and three of the councilmen.

Vice-Mayor Dr. Dustin Flowers was absent.

Because the grant funding is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the application process must be completed by January 15, 2010.  The funds will be distributed as Community Development Block Grants.

Community preparedness must be the focus of the expenditure, Braly told the Council.

The City of Hohenwald discussed making request for emergency generators or other items for the water treatment plant, a monitoring system and new fire truck.  The grant requires no match.  For each community to qualify, 51 percent of the people must be low to moderate income, Braly added.  The City can provide the necessary documentation due to a survey conducted of its population, Mayor Jones indicated.

Interim Lewis County Mayor Jonah Keltner said Monday he had spoken with Fire Chief Steve Vineyard about the process but noted the short time frame and the County’s lack of proof 51 percent of the population is low to moderate income.

The grant application process could be discussed at the November 30, 2009 meeting of the Lewis County Board of Commissioners, but no formal announcement in that regard has been made.