Palmyra seeks OCRA planning grant to fund $97,000 utility plan; HWC Engineering selected for design work

Palmyra on Feb. 17 held a public hearing to present a proposed utility planning project and its upcoming application for state and federal planning funds.

Chelsea Crump, a charitable financial specialist who said she represents "Riverbills, EDD, and RPC," told attendees the town intends "to apply for federal funds through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs" to develop a utility plan covering water, wastewater and stormwater systems. "This is the first of two required public hearings for the project," Crump said, adding that the application is due March 1, 2026.

Crump provided the project budget and financing plan: "The dual project cost is $97,000, and the town is applying for a total of $79,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning funds via OCRA. An 8% match of the total project cost is required. The town has agreed to commit $18,000 in local match funds, which is 18.5 percent of the total project cost." She also said the Harrison County Community Foundation previously awarded a grant to cover the local match and approved an extension on that grant so the match remains available while the town reapplies.

Crump said applicants would likely know whether they received funding by mid to late April and noted OCRA now runs three planning grant cycles per year. On eligibility she said the town qualifies under one national objective: benefit to a low- to moderate-income area, based on an income survey the town completed within the last five years.

Crump said procurement for a consultant had already occurred under OCRA requirements. She said the town used statements of qualifications and a qualifications-based scoring system and selected HWC Engineering; a contract, she said, would be awarded only if the grant is received and funds are released.

Zach, representing HWC Engineering, described the firm’s planned approach: build on initial designs and investigations from the prior application round, investigate Palmyra’s utility systems, conduct outreach to clarify areas of concern, identify improvement projects, estimate costs and set a sequence of priorities. "We will investigate your water, wastewater, and stormwater systems and further detail understanding of your concerns," he said.

Crump asked for public comment on utility issues; none were recorded. She closed the hearing after attendees had an opportunity to sign in or fill out a survey. The town’s online application is due March 1; Crump said grants should be announced by mid to late April and any contract with HWC Engineering would be contingent on award and the release of funds.

Next steps: the town will submit the OCRA planning grant application by March 1, await awards in April, and if funded will proceed to finalize the plan and hold the second required public hearing to present the draft plan for public comment.