Duval to pursue T-Mobile Hometown Grant for farmers market water, paving and infrastructure
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Summary
Council authorized staff to pursue a T-Mobile Hometown Grant to fund water infrastructure and possibly repave the farmers market site to expand vendor capacity and add a water-refill station; councilors supported the application and suggested letters of support and sustainability framing.
City Administrator Cynthia McNabb presented a proposed T-Mobile Hometown Grant application focused on farmers-market infrastructure improvements, primarily water hookups and possible repaving to increase vendor capacity and add a public water-bottle refill station. She summarized the program's priorities (projects must be shovel-ready, fill a community need and be feasible within 12 months) and said the city's application would emphasize sustainability, public access and economic benefits.
Councilmember McHenry supported the water-refill concept as aligned with sustainability and praised Public Works for cost estimates; staff said a number of local nonprofits and the chamber could provide letters of support and that the application deadline is Sept. 20 with quarterly reopens if needed. McNabb asked whether council objected to staff moving forward with the application; with no objections voiced, staff were authorized to prepare and submit the proposal and to solicit letters of support from council and community organizations.
Staff will incorporate Public Works cost estimates and prepare the grant packet and letters of support for submission. The award, if received, would be restricted by T-Mobile's grant criteria (no use for operating salaries or routine architecture/engineering fees), and staff said they would align the project to the grant's eligible categories (outdoor improvements and technology/community access).