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Pulaski County weighs surveying county farm, reconsidering REDI grant match and revolving loan fund relaunch
Summary
Officials discussed surveying and parceling the county farm to enable a land swap or targeted infill housing tied to a tentative $1,000,000 REDI 2 grant; commissioners also heard a plan to relaunch a revolving loan fund with $369,559.17 available to lend.
Pulaski County commissioners reviewed options for the county farm property after the farm tenant left operations, and discussed how a possible land swap could support housing development with a tentative REDI 2 grant.
Speaker 6 told commissioners the county has tentatively received a $1,000,000 REDI 2 grant that carries a matching expectation of roughly $4,000,000 total (approximately $1,000,000 local and $3,000,000 private sector). He said the county may prefer a phased approach — purchasing or improving lots already on utilities in multiple towns for modest, infill housing — rather than committing the full local match required for a large, contiguous development. Speaker 6 suggested surveying and splitting the county farm parcel and transferring the south-side acreage to the redevelopment commission to retain flexibility for a future swap; the proposed transaction could provide about $200,000 in cash toward a housing effort if pursued.
Commissioners asked for acreage clarifications; Speaker 6 estimated the county farm parcel at about 90 acres, with an additional roughly 30 acres near the county home and an approximate 10-acre parcel at the far south end. Commissioners agreed it would be beneficial to undertake a survey now, acknowledging surveyor wait times of six to seven months could delay results. The board moved, seconded and approved proceeding with a survey of the county farm parcel to clarify boundaries and acreage before taking further action on leasing or a swap.
On the revolving loan fund, Speaker 6 reported a balance of $369,559.17 available to lend and described proposed program changes that aim to increase borrower flexibility and improve contract security; staff will circulate the proposed changes for review prior to mid-December to restart lending activity and outreach. No final decisions about the REDI grant match or a land swap were made; commissioners asked staff to return with survey results and detailed options for phased, infill housing and financial implications.
