Hertford wins $750,000 grant to connect downtown to docks; council approves in‑house restroom renovations

The Town of Hertford received a $750,000 Rural Transformation Grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce to fund a downtown‑to‑docks connectivity project, Interim Town Manager Janice McKenzie Cole told the council on Jan. 9. The grant application was prepared by Allison Platt, Cole said. The town’s required match will cover landscaping costs for the project.

Council also approved converting space behind the Administration Building into public restrooms, which staff will renovate in‑house. “The Town of Hertford received a $750,000 grant to connect downtown to the docks,” Cole said, noting the match and the in‑house renovation plan. Councilman Jerry Mimlitsch moved to proceed with the renovations; Mayor Pro Tem Ashley Hodges seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Why it matters: the grant funds a physical connection intended to support downtown access to waterfront resources and potential pedestrian/dockside activation. The council’s decision to handle restroom renovations in‑house is intended to reduce outside contracting costs and speed implementation, but it leaves budgeting details and a construction timetable to staff.

Details and next steps: Cole said the town will pay landscaping costs as the local match; she did not provide a detailed project schedule or a final match amount at the meeting. Council gave staff authorization to proceed with the planning and renovation work; no separate capital appropriation or construction contract was presented or voted at the Jan. 9 meeting. The council did not set a specific deadline for completing the renovations.

The council’s approval moves the project into the implementation planning stage. Staff indicated they will manage the restroom renovation internally and return with any required budget adjustments or contract approvals if outside work is needed.