Public works director says city awarded $913,482 grant for Fox River "Connect the Bay" coastal resilience project

The Department of Public Works director told the Improvement and Services Committee that the city has been awarded a $913,482.15 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s National Coastal Resilience Fund to advance the Fox River Connect the Bay project through final design and permitting.

"So this is, exciting news that we were awarded the grant from NFWF, for the Connect the Bay project," the director said, describing the project area along the bay near Bay Beach and Bernard Island. The director said design work will include break walls, trails and a boardwalk, habitat restoration and other coastal‑resilience features.

The director said the city will provide a $15,000 in‑kind match (staff time), expects a cash match from McDonald Companies under a separate agreement, and that the grant includes about $43,499.15 for indirect costs to cover the city’s administrative work. Consultant services for final design will be brought to a future meeting once proposals are prepared.

Committee members moved and seconded acceptance of the grant; the motion carried by voice vote. The committee’s approval is a recommendation to the full council, which is scheduled to consider committee recommendations at its March 17 meeting.

Why it matters: the funding will pay for final design and permitting steps necessary to make the Fox River shoreline work shovel‑ready and to position the city for construction funding. The project aims to reduce coastal hazard risk and restore shoreline habitat along the bay.

What’s next: staff will return with consultant proposals and any required agreement with McDonald Companies before work begins.