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Commission to seek ARC grant for Soddy Daisy Rails-to-Trails project; county match to be comprised of pending grants
Summary
Hamilton County staff asked permission to submit an Appalachian Regional Commission grant application of up to $2 million for the Soddy Daisy Rails-to-Trails project. Officials said the county's match would be met by other pending grants if awarded; commissioners raised questions about taxpayer exposure.
The Hamilton County Commission on Sept. 24 heard a presentation on Resolution 1025Dash11, which would authorize the county mayor to submit an application of up to $2 million to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for the 2025 Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization initiative for the Soddy Daisy Rails-to-Trails project.
County staff said the required local match could be comprised of other grants the county has applied for, not county taxpayer dollars, and that the county would only accept the ARC award if the match funds were secured. "That match portion is allowed to be comprised of other grants that we are seeking to obtain," County staff said.
Sarah Spencer, speaking for the office of economic and community development, said two pending grants — a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) application for $1 million and a Land and Water Conservation Fund application for $1 million — would serve as the match if awarded. Spencer said the combined effort could yield roughly $4.4 million in grant funds for the project if successful.
Commissioner Sharp and others asked for clarity about whether any Hamilton County taxpayer dollars would ultimately be required. County staff reiterated the current plan is to apply for the ARC grant and to bring the award back for acceptance only if the match was secured from the pending grants.
Commissioner Shipley, noting the project’s long history, and other commissioners spoke in favor of the trail’s potential community benefits, including recreational access, property-value impacts, and economic activity along the corridor. Commissioners said the project primarily lies in Soddy Daisy but would benefit adjacent county areas.
No vote was taken Sept. 24; staff said they would apply for the ARC grant and would return with acceptance language only if matching funds were secured.
