Hardee County EDA approves $1M Bowling Green water grant, terminates two prior $500K grants and OKs several grant modifications

The Hardee County Economic Development Authority on April 1 unanimously approved a $1 million grant to the City of Bowling Green to fund a water main and valve improvements project, and voted to terminate two prior $500,000 grant agreements to Bowling Green and return those funds to the EDA. The board also approved several contract modifications extending grant deadlines and updating project scopes, and adopted the clerk’s unadjusted monthly financial statements for the month ending Feb. 28, 2025.

Board members said the actions free up funds to address urgent infrastructure needs. “That was part of the reason of terminating those other two, so it would free up a million dollars to progress with this,” Victoria Rogers, clerk of the circuit court and comptroller, told the board.

The water main and valve project is intended to replace and repair water mains and valves across Bowling Green’s system. Mr. Holman, who presented the application on the city’s behalf, said the city will combine a $1,000,000 EDA grant with drinking water state revolving fund (DWSRF) planning, design and construction funding. He said the DWSRF package is mixed grant and low-interest loan and that the EDA funds would serve as part of the local match for loan portions.

The board discussed project scope and schedule, including that a state-funded planning and design process is already under way and that the construction phase is subject to competitive bidding and possible value-engineering if costs grow. Holman said the city expects to begin planning this year and complete the distribution work by the end of 2026.

The board also approved two grant-termination actions with the City of Bowling Green, each returning $500,000 to the EDA and making the necessary budget amendments. The clerk explained the terminations had been anticipated and were discussed at prior meetings.

Other approved items included two modification requests: one extending a WHW and WW phase grant until project completion and final payment, and another updating Exhibit B (scope of work) for the Hardy Lake park infrastructure award to reflect increased costs.

All votes on the items listed below were unanimous.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Apr. 1 agenda (motion to approve with addition of a Mosaic presentation): motion by Commissioner Flores; second Commissioner Chancy; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approval of minutes, Feb. 11, 2025: motion by Commissioner Chancy; second Commissioner Flores; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approval of clerk’s unadjusted monthly financial statement (month ending 02/28/2025): motion by Commissioner Flores; second Miss Roberson; outcome: approved unanimously. - Termination of grant agreement (Hardee EDA and City of Bowling Green, dated June 15, 2021, Highway 17 Utilities Extension Corridor 21-17-02) and release of $500,000 back to EDA: motion by Commissioner Flores; second Miss Roberson; outcome: approved unanimously. - Termination of grant agreement (Hardee EDA and City of Bowling Green, dated 08/29/2024, Highway 17 Utilities 24-23-04) and release of $500,000 back to EDA: motion by Commissioner Chancy; second Miss Roberson; outcome: approved unanimously. - Modification No. 2 for WHW & WW PH 7, Highway 17 Old Dixie Road grama award (extend until completion and payment): motion by Commissioner Miller; second Commissioner Chancy; outcome: approved unanimously. - Modification No. 2 updating Exhibit B for Hardy Lake Parks Infrastructure (amend scope of work): motion by Commissioner Flores; second Commissioner Miller; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approval of City of Bowling Green grant application (water main and valve improvements), $1,000,000, and authorization for chair or county manager to sign documents and make budget amendments: motion by Commissioner Flores; second Commissioner Chancy; outcome: approved unanimously.

Why it matters: The actions reorder previously approved projects and return two prior grants to the EDA’s fund pool so the authority can use the money as a match for state revolving funds. That is intended to accelerate water system repairs across Bowling Green’s city limits and to align EDA funding with projects that the board and staff deem deliverable and urgent.

What the grants cover and next steps: The Bowling Green project will be funded in phases aligned with a DWSRF loan-and-grant package; the EDA’s $1,000,000 will serve as match for portions of the DWSRF assistance. The clerk reported that staff has a budget amendment prepared and that staff will bring the grant agreement back for final execution following EDA approval.

Quiet unanimous votes: Each motion recorded in the meeting passed without recorded opposition. Several motions were introduced with written or spoken motion language by commissioners and seconded; public comment was not offered on these items.

Ending: Board members scheduled a special EDA meeting for April 29 to start a new grant cycle and asked staff to prepare the budget amendments and draft grant agreements tied to today’s approvals.