Gadsden County lays out timelines for six major grant-funded projects; commissioners pick Boys & Girls Club site

Gadsden County officials on Tuesday gave an update on six large, grant-funded construction projects and set timelines that county leaders say are needed to meet funders' deadlines.

The county's interim grants team presented status reports on a special-needs shelter at 223186 Blue Star Highway in Quincy, a Quincy EMS station, multipurpose community facilities in Chattahoochee and Havana, an $18 million public safety complex and a proposed Boys & Girls Club site. Cassandra McLaughn, team lead for the county's project group, told commissioners the projects range from late design through procurement and that several agreements include firm expiration or review dates the county must meet.

"For the Chattahoochee MTCF we have a deadline of 10/31/2026 with limited extension options, so we are postured to move the design forward and push procurement quickly," McLaughn said. She reported ARPA and other legislative grants as the primary funders and said staff would hold weekly check-ins with funders on the highest-priority projects to speed approvals.

Why this matters: several projects use time-limited state or federal grants that the county said may trigger claw-backs or require exhaustion of funds before specific dates. County…