DeSoto reports $6.5M in awarded grants and 25 active applications; parks grant requires 20% city match
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Summary
Community services director listed 25 grant submissions and about $6.5 million awarded across departments; most recent notable submissions include a $3 million fire grant and various parks and library requests. City staff said most listed grants do not require a direct city match except for a parks regional trail grant noted at 20%.
Dr. Esther Williams, Community Services and External Affairs Director, updated the City Council on July 14 about current grant applications and awards across city departments. Williams said staff has submitted 25 grant applications and the city has received approximately $6.5 million in awarded grant funds to support projects and services.
Williams summarized department‑level activity: development services and economic development have multiple applications; the fire department recently applied for an approximately $3 million grant for emergency response capacity; parks and recreation and public utilities have several active submissions; and the library applied for a larger grant that was not awarded because the program was terminated.
On CDBG and HUD‑related planning the city is working with a consultant (Grow America) on the consolidated plan update and action plan (see separate coverage). Williams told the council that most grants presented in her slide deck did not require a local match; the parks regional trail grant was an exception, requiring a 20% city match. She said staff will provide additional columns in future grant reports to show the city’s potential fiscal responsibility and the timing for spending awarded funds.
Council members requested an explicit column in future grant reports indicating the city match requirement, grant award period and how much of each award has been expended to date. Williams said staff will add those details and department directors will bring program specifics when appropriate.
