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USDA offers Black Mountain $548,400 equipment grant to replace storm-damaged vehicles
Summary
A USDA Rural Development representative told the Black Mountain council on June 30 that a $548,400 Community Facilities disaster-assistance grant is available to replace roughly 17–18 vehicles lost in recent storms; the council agreed to accept the equipment-only award and sign required documents.
Josh, a representative of USDA Rural Development, told the Black Mountain Town Council on June 30 that the agency has a Community Facilities disaster-assistance grant of $548,400 available to help the town replace vehicles destroyed in recent storms. "It's a disaster assisted fund grant through the US Department of Agriculture… It's $548,400," Josh said.
Josh said the grant is equipment-only and is intended to restore the town's capacity to provide essential services. He said roughly "17 to 18 vehicles" were destroyed in the storm and that insurance payouts might not fully replace the town's fleet. "This grant is to help purchase additional vehicles to get your fleet back," he said.
He described key conditions: the award requires compliance with 2 CFR Part 200 (single-audit and federal accounting standards), continued SAM.gov registration, and quarterly and final reporting. Equipment covered by the grant is considered depreciated out when its value reaches $10,000; at that point the town would no longer be under the grant interest. Josh said there is a brief congressional notification period (a roughly 5–7 day CAMS hold) during which public announcements should be deferred. He also noted Washington's (soon-to-be St. Louis) office guidance around fidelity bonding and standard procurement rules.
Council members asked procedural questions about which assets qualify, how depreciation schedules are handled, and whether vehicles could be used across town departments; Josh responded that the funds can be used for any town operation (water fund, general fund, etc.) and affirmed the equipment-only restriction. He told the council he would obligate the grant after signatures were collected and asked that the town provide invoices and required forms for reimbursements.
The council moved to accept the grant agreement and to complete the required signatures; Josh said he would obligate the funds once the paperwork was in order. The council was advised to follow municipal procurement rules (and to document at least three bids when not using state contract lists) and to maintain required documentation for audits.
Next steps: Council members will sign the grant documents and staff will work with Josh on obligations, invoicing and the required reporting schedule.
