Pearisburg authorizes BRIC grant application for new wastewater treatment plant, commits local match

The Pearisburg Town Council on June 9 unanimously authorized the Town Manager to submit a Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) construction‑phase grant application seeking $18,032,790 to construct improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment plant.

The motion, which passed 7‑0, also authorized the Town Manager to execute all related application forms, including the SF‑424 federal assistance form, a local match commitment letter to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, required maintenance agreements and construction assurances, and a certification regarding lobbying. Council recorded the local match as $4,508,198 in the motion.

Town Manager Adam Poser said engineering studies of the plant, originally constructed in 1984, have been ongoing for three to four years and that VDEM had recommended the town for a Phase I engineering grant. The BRIC application under consideration was described as a Phase II construction request. Poser told the council the application required a local match and noted the grant application deadline was the following day.

The authorization will allow staff to submit the formal BRIC application and required assurances; any subsequent award or acceptance of funds will be subject to future council authorization and required procurement and contracting rules.

The council vote was unanimous. The town did not vote at the meeting to award construction contracts or to obligate the local match beyond authorizing application and signature authority.