Orangeville council discusses CDBG, OHV and other grants for housing, trails and cemetery work

Councilors spent a substantial portion of the Oct. 9 meeting discussing potential grant applications for recreation, housing and cemetery preservation.

Danny outlined two large opportunities: a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that could fund park upgrades, playground improvements and low- to moderate-income housing projects near the baseball-field complex, and an OHV/trails grant that requires a 10% local match but can pay for right-of-way work and trail improvements. "One of them was low to moderate income housing," Danny said, noting the town owns property near the ballfields that could support affordable housing if an income survey qualifies the project under program rules.

Danny also raised cemetery needs and said registering the cemetery as historic could unlock additional grant opportunities beyond survey-only funding. He said the registration process requires detailed research into burials and stone carvers and may require hiring a specialist.

Councilors discussed coordination steps: completing a free income survey to qualify for LMI funding, coordinating with Emery County for the OHV grant to maximize match capacity, and forming a committee to refine grant project proposals. The council noted the town already has $10,000 set aside for a pickleball court, which could be used as a local match for related recreation improvements.

No formal grant awards were approved at the meeting; councilors asked staff and volunteer committee members to develop project proposals and gather required documentation for future applications.