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Tonawanda mayor urges pursuit of $4.5 million pool grant, warns of likely 20% local match
Summary
The mayor told the Common Council the city will pursue state and federal grants to replace the community pool but may need to cover roughly a 20% local match on a $4.5 million project; staff will prepare grant applications and a council letter of support.
Tonawanda Mayor said the city will pursue state and federal grant funding to replace the city pool, but warned the project — estimated at about $4.5 million — could require a roughly 20% local match.
"We've got, couple things that we know it's gonna take 4,500,000.0 to, get a new pool," the mayor said, adding that grant programs under consideration include the state "New York Swims" round and outreach through Senator Kennedy's office and other state contacts.
The mayor told council members the city has gathered letters of community support and met with local clubs, including the Rotary Club and Sunrise, and that the swim program application has just been released. He said staff will submit applications and that he will work with state contacts including Will Conrad and Senator Kennedy's office to identify funding sources.
The mayor cautioned that many grants may require a local match. "You're talking a possibility of 20% match," he said, and noted that a 20% share on a $4.5 million project would be a substantial local cost. He said the city does have carryover in its general fund and that the council could consider using some of those reserves as the local match if needed.
Council members and staff discussed complementary strategies to reduce operating losses and to raise funds for construction and maintenance. Suggestions included pursuing piecemeal funding from multiple sources, seeking corporate or private sponsorships for amenities (the mayor mentioned "maybe somebody's gonna sponsor the slide" and a possible sponsor for an accessibility lift), and partnering with nonprofits such as the Boys & Girls Club to share staffing and programming costs.
The mayor said he will draft a letter of support on city letterhead for councilmembers to cosign and will ask staff to submit the grant applications. No formal vote to commit funds or to adopt a financing plan took place at the meeting; council members endorsed proceeding with applications and returning with more information.
Next steps: staff will submit the available grant applications, the mayor will circulate a letter of support for signatures, and city officials said they will report back to the council with updates on award prospects and any formal match requests.
