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DeSoto County accepts $500,000 USDA award for Agri‑Education 'Meeting House'; county to contribute $225,000
Summary
The board accepted a $500,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Congressional Direct Spending award for an Agri‑Education 'Meeting House'; DeSoto County will receive $275,000 and provide a local match of $225,000. The board also approved a fishing‑pier contract and rejected an over‑budget generator bid for the Agri‑Ed site.
DeSoto County accepted a $500,000 project award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Congressional Direct Spending program to support the Agri‑Education 'Meeting House.' The county will receive $275,000 of the award and is committing $225,000 in local funds as its match.
County Administrator Andrea Pettigrew presented the award terms and the board voted to accept the grant and authorize the Board President to sign. Pettigrew said the acceptance followed standard grant review and brought a significant federal contribution to a project intended to support agricultural education and community events.
Separately, Environmental Services Director Ray Laughter presented bids for a fishing pier on the Agri‑Education trail and the board approved the lowest responsive bid from J & S Framing (Shane Denman) for $55,800 to keep the trail project moving forward. Procurement staff reported they would confirm scope and contract details with the successful bidder.
Procurement also advised that bids for a standby generator at the Agri‑Education Center came back substantially higher than anticipated; the board rejected those bids as over budget and directed staff to explore alternative approaches, including coordination with Entergy on possible, less‑costly options.
The board authorized related budget and procurement steps needed to implement the Agri‑Education awards and projects. Next steps include finalizing the grant closeout paperwork, executing the fishing‑pier contract, and re‑scoping the generator need to seek a cost‑effective solution.
