Town eyes federal BUILD grant for bridges and schedules racetrack hearing for Dec. 22

The town administrator told the board the town had been notified it is eligible to apply for a federal DOT BUILD grant that could provide up to $1 million per project. He said staff are exploring whether at least one bridge project could be submitted for funding, but cautioned that many grant programs require detailed, shovel-ready plans and that the application site has not yet released full application packets.

"We were notified of eligibility on Friday," the administrator said, explaining that the BUILD program typically allows two to two-and-a-half years to complete awarded projects. He added that grant timing and the requirement for detailed plans could make meeting application deadlines difficult for some projects.

Separately, the administrator told the board the racetrack—now reportedly under new management or leasing arrangements—has a hearing scheduled for Dec. 22, when the board will meet representatives of the new operators.

The administrator also described an unsuccessful initial inquiry to a USDA recreation-grant program for a Little River Park building, saying town household income appeared to place the town outside the USDA eligibility thresholds despite its rural population under 6,000; the USDA contact said she would re-check the town’s listing to confirm whether the ineligibility was correct.

Board members directed staff to continue developing options and to return with cost estimates, shovel-ready planning needs, and timing for any grant applications.