Newport council signs resolution to authorize grants administrator as signatory for Northern Border grant application

Newport City Council voted April 9 to authorize the city’s grants administrator to sign and administer a Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) grant application for a downtown infrastructure and streetscape project.

The council reviewed a pre-application staff submitted that estimates total project costs at roughly $3,750,000 and seeks an NBRC award of up to about $3,000,000; council materials indicate the application would request an approximately 80% grant match from NBRC. The resolution presented would name Grants Administrator Frank Cheney as the city’s authorized official to apply for, accept and expend NBRC funds if the award is made.

“All of the documents that are going in next week have to be signed by the authorized representative,” Grants Administrator Frank Cheney said, explaining the need to designate a signer quickly so the full application can be submitted on time. The council discussed the wording in the form the agency provided — including a phrase that frames the city as already “awarded” the funds — and agreed to follow the NBRC-provided text.

After staff explained that the pre-application invitation to apply came through a competitive process and that the full application is due the following week, a council member moved to approve the municipal resolution naming Cheney as authorized official. The motion was seconded and passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded on the record.

Next steps: staff will finalize and sign the required forms so the full NBRC application can be submitted within the agency’s deadline. If the city is offered an award, the council will return to approve any final acceptance steps and any follow-up resolutions required by NBRC procedures.