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Council hears plan to pursue EDA funding for Westgate water tower to support industrial growth
Summary
County redevelopment and staff told the council a water tower at Westgate is critical for fire suppression and to support incoming industrial projects; they said an EDA grant could cover up to 80% of costs and a preliminary engineering report is needed to secure funding, with local match options including Westgate TIF or ED income tax up to about $2 million.
Daviess County officials told the council on May 13 they plan to pursue an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to fund a water tower at the Westgate tech park to improve fire suppression and support industrial expansion.
A county redevelopment representative, addressed in the meeting as Brian, said the application window requires a preliminary engineering report rather than final design. Officials said the county already has a 30% design and that the report would test relocating the tower to alternate sites on property owned by the County Redevelopment Commission to reduce costs and create better hydraulic performance.
Brian told the council the EDA opportunity could fund as much as 80% of the project and that the local match might come from the economic development income tax or the Westgate TIF, with a potential local commitment discussed in the meeting of up to about $2,000,000. He said the tower is needed to ensure adequate fire flow and to support specialized testing facilities coming to Westgate.
"This is an absolute must," Brian said, urging prompt preparation of the preliminary engineering report to meet EDA timelines.
Council members asked whether the redesign and report can be completed in time to meet application parameters; staff responded that full design is not required to apply but that a preliminary engineering report and more refined hydraulics are necessary and feasible given existing 30% designs.
Why it matters: Without adequate fire flow and water-pressure redundancy, certain industrial projects may be unable to locate or expand at Westgate. Securing federal EDA funds with a local match could accelerate infrastructure needed for private investment.
Next steps: Staff noted email traffic and that a preliminary engineering report will be prepared to support the EDA application. The council and redevelopment commission will coordinate on potential local match sources, including the Westgate TIF.
