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Grants administrator briefs council on SRF, ARPA and a $33 million wastewater award
Summary
Grants administrator George Popovich told the council about multiple active awards and applications, including a SRF sewer-rehab project, ARPA funds nearing full expenditure and a $33 million wastewater treatment center award that carries a local match obligation discussed with council.
Grants Administrator George Popovich provided a multi-part update on the city—s portfolio of federal, state and philanthropic awards and pending applications.
Popovich described the state revolving fund (SRF) loan supporting the city—s sewer rehabilitation program (listed at $3.6 million with a $720,000 match and a reported loan-forgiveness component). He said the city has expended about 93% of its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocations and expects to finish spending by year-end, and he outlined near-complete work under a National Endowment for the Arts mural project.
Popovich also reported that the city was awarded approximately $33,000,000 for the wastewater treatment center and that council had previously authorized a $1.9 million matching commitment during negotiation; he said the awarding agency indicated flexibility on match levels. He outlined other active projects and applications: a half-million-dollar stormwater master plan (62% complete), a master lift station contract underway, a SCADA upgrade at roughly 49% completion, a $720,000 DEP match award for sewer rehab, and various smaller competitive grants (Trail-Corps, FLA Department of Health emergency-management grants, Lowe—s hometown grant, the T-Mobile and AARP community-project opportunities).
Council members asked for follow-up on several points. One council member asked whether the city had returned unused grant funds; Popovich said some funds were forfeited when time frames were not met and that most grants required detailed reporting. Councilmembers also pressed about leveraging county, congressional and lobbying contacts for appropriations and whether matches could be covered through non-city partners. Popovich said he had planned calls with the city—s lobbyist and had pursued congressional appropriations and the federal equipment waiting lists for a fire truck and generators; he said several applications require local matches and that some grants do not.
Why it matters: The grants discussed fund sewer and wastewater infrastructure, stormwater planning, emergency equipment and community projects. Several awards carry match or implementation conditions; success in this grant portfolio would shape capital projects and staffing decisions in coming years.
Ending: Popovich told council that many grant programs require active federal and state follow-up, that some larger awards included match obligations the city must honor, and that staff would continue to report progress to the council as reimbursements and application outcomes develop.
