Loveland Council votes to apply for federal BUILD planning grant for downtown mobility and streetscape planning

The Loveland City Council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a U.S. Department of Transportation BUILD planning grant and to commit the 20% local match required for the application.

City manager Dave Kennedy told council the city has completed multiple master plans — a comprehensive plan, downtown plan, park master plan and streetscape plan — and that the BUILD planning grant would allow the city to combine streetscape work with traffic and mobility improvements to better compete for implementation funding. “This resolution would allow the city to a) submit the application and b) include the 20% required local match,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy said federal BUILD funding is highly competitive but noted the program’s focus on projects that “better utilizing investments to leverage development” aligns with Loveland’s approach of integrating streetscape and traffic improvements. Council members asked clarifying questions about how the planning work would affect Five Points, the trestle, and other downtown elements; Kennedy said the planning round under consideration would give a detailed look at those priorities.

The council read the resolution aloud and adopted Resolution 17 by roll call vote, 7–0. The application will move forward subject to staff completing the procurement steps and confirming the local-match financing plan.

Next steps: staff will prepare application materials and any required budget authorizations; no implementation funds were committed beyond the local-match pledge in the adopted resolution.