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Forward Wayne County presentation names Economy gym a priority project; plan increases grant readiness
Summary
A Forward Wayne County representative told the Economy Town Council the countywide Strategic Investment Plan lists the town gym as a priority project and recommends design work and an income survey to improve grant eligibility. The plan does not guarantee funding but offers technical assistance and an April state‑agency meeting to present projects.
A Forward Wayne County representative told the Town of Economy council on March 11 that the countywide Strategic Investment Plan (SIP) identifies the town’s gym as the community’s priority project and that the plan’s primary value is improving readiness to apply for grants rather than guaranteeing money.
“A plan lets you submit the entire SIP and say, ‘look at my pages,’” Aassia St. John, who represents the community‑development arm of the Wayne County Foundation, said. She told the council that Economy participated in county planning, that the town’s gym was included in the SIP project spreads, and that the county has set up technical assistance to help towns move from plan to application.
The SIP ranks projects on a five‑ to seven‑year horizon to match typical grant timelines, St. John said. She described a follow‑up program of technical assistance — three in‑person and three virtual sessions — and a state‑agency “day” in April where state agencies and consultants such as HWC will be on hand to speak directly with towns about funding and project details.
The presentation stressed two constraints. First, the SIP is a planning and preparedness tool, not a funding commitment: “there’s no promise of money,” St. John said. Second, some state and federal grants require a low‑to‑moderate‑income (LMI) threshold for eligibility; St. John reported Economy’s LMI rate at 48% (below the approximate 51% threshold cited for some block‑grant programs) and said the town can commission a household income survey to seek reconsideration of eligibility.
Barb Irvin, the town clerk and treasurer, and council members discussed next steps including hiring a park or building designer to develop floor plans and cost estimates. The SIP includes an estimate of about $500,000 for the gym master plan, but St. John emphasized that the SIP’s figure is an estimate and that professional design work will refine costs.
St. John outlined funding channels that can support projects identified in the SIP: donor support via the Wayne County Foundation, rapid‑response grants (small awards), and larger matching campaigns that have ranged from $25,000 to $50,000. She also referenced prior state programs (Ready 1.0 and Ready 2) as examples of grant cycles communities must be prepared to respond to when solicitations open.
The council was invited to send one representative (the clerk or town council president) to the April state‑agency day and to participate in the technical‑assistance cohort. St. John provided contact details for follow‑up and said county staff can help towns that wish to pursue an income survey or request consultant support.
Next steps: the council may authorize design work or seek assistance from HWC and Forward Wayne County; the town can pursue an income survey to test eligibility for block grants. The SIP remains a readiness document that towns can use to present projects to state or private funders when opportunities arise.
