Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City outlines multiple grant‑funded infrastructure and CDBG projects, from underground utilities to community center upgrades
Summary
Gardner City staff reported awarded grants and contracts for several projects: Rear Main utility undergrounding with a May 2026 substantial completion date, South Gardner Village utility undergrounding, downtown pedestrian upgrades, Waterford Street community center fire-system replacement, and the Greer Memorial Pavilion funding shift after Greenwood Pool demolition.
Gardner City department staff told the Economic and Community Development Committee on Dec. 12 that the city has secured multiple grant awards and contracts to advance streetscape, utilities and community‑facility projects.
Director Stevens reported the Rear Main project has National Grid sign‑offs for electrical design and that conduit, concrete pads and undergrounding of utility wires for Main Street businesses are next steps. Staff said National Grid will complete a site visit before conduit installation and that the project’s substantial completion date remains May 31, 2026. “This project still does have a substantial completion date of May 31,” staff said in the presentation.
The South Gardner Village utility upgrade was noted as awarded with a contract pending execution of a state grant agreement; the project will move overhead wires underground and requires coordination and mapping with National Grid. Downtown Phase 5 is intended to upgrade pedestrian infrastructure on City Hall Avenue between Nickel and Pleasant streets with new crosswalks, sidewalks, lighting and accessibility improvements; the environmental‑review record is complete but the city awaits a signed grant agreement to access funds.
Waterford Street Community Center will receive FY25 CDBG funds for fire‑safety upgrades (alarms, wiring and emergency lighting). Staff said radon testing and completion of the environmental review record remain before funds can be fully executed. The Greer Memorial Pavilion will be funded with a FY24 CDBG transfer (presentation listed $719,342.51) reallocated from a demolition account; the amendment is under EOHLC review and staff plan to issue a notice to proceed for spring bidding once approved.
Staff said many CDBG and state grants arrive with specific use timelines and federal/state compliance conditions; the department is balancing match requirements and timetables while pursuing roughly 47 active grant applications across the city. Departments emphasized that most project dollars are grant funds rather than local taxpayer funding and that ARPA reclasses were used as interim sources for certain closeout items.
Committee members asked for clarity on slide figures where transcription or slide transfer errors appeared; staff acknowledged some slide typos and said they will correct the figures in the final packet. The committee agreed to continue tracking these projects as grant agreements are executed and to report updates to the full city council.
