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Consultants outline $1.5M ParkCentral earmark request and wider federal grant strategy
Summary
Merchant McIntyre presented pending grant applications and a $1.5 million FY2025 earmark request for ParkCentral Complete Streets improvements, reviewed a prior FY2024 creek-restoration earmark (~$960,000), and advised a strategic calendar for competitive federal grant applications amid inflation and agency timing risks.
Consultants from Merchant McIntyre briefed the Manassas Park governing body on Jan. 14 about pending federal grant applications, congressionally directed spending requests and the city’s grant strategy for 2025.
The firm said it has forecasted opportunities and highlighted two pending grant applications (a National Endowment for the Arts Our Town application and a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters request) and a $1.5 million FY2025 congressional-directed funding request for the ParkCentral Complete Streets Improvements Project. The firm explained that if the FY2025 appropriations bill passes in March as expected, the city could begin drawdown and implementation later this summer.
Consultants also reported on a previously awarded FY2024 earmark of approximately $960,000 for the Bird Sanctuary stream restoration; staff said they were coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency on administrative steps and RFP preparation for contractor selection but cautioned that inflation and agency timelines can increase total project cost beyond the awarded amount.
Merchant McIntyre staff encouraged proactive planning, noted that competition for federal grants is intense and that many programs require advanced planning and strong need justification, and recommended early engagement with potential partners (counties or neighboring cities) where appropriate. The consultants said some jurisdictions use software such as Neighborly to manage applications and compliance and recommended the city consider similar documentation systems; they indicated the city might need a modest funding request for such software.
Council members pressed on grant trends, collaborative approaches with adjacent jurisdictions, and the likelihood of repeat awards for SAFER firefighter grants; consultants said SAFER awards are competitive and often treated as new competitions even for prior recipients, and they recommended treating upcoming opportunities as highly competitive.
The presentation closed with staff and consultants agreeing to refine a prioritized list of grant targets for calendar-year 2025 and to coordinate with the new city manager and department leads on match commitments and timing.
