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Regional planning council seeks $275,000 EDA grant to map advanced-manufacturing sites
Summary
Tara McHugh of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council told Oak Hill commissioners the council applied for an Economic Development Administration grant to fund an 18-month, $275,000 gap analysis of commercial sites that would support space and advanced manufacturing; the match would be covered by local partners and the project would cost Oak Hill nothing.
Tara McHugh, executive director of the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, told the Oak Hill Commission the council partnered with the Southeast Volusia coalition to apply to the Economic Development Administration for a disaster supplemental grant to fund a strategic infrastructure gap analysis.
"The total cost of the project was $275,000," McHugh said, describing an 18-month effort to evaluate parcels in a commercial-space industry overlay and to catalog infrastructure needs such as stormwater, utilities and transportation. She said the proposal is an 80/20 grant match and that Edgewater, New Smyrna, Volusia County and the regional planning council would cover the local match so there would be "no cost to Oak Hill." McHugh said the council will prioritize sites and produce cost estimates and recommended actions if the grant is awarded.
The presentation framed the project as part of an existing strategic plan from a regional summit; McHugh said the award timeline is rolling and uncertain, and that the council would proceed to contract with on‑record consultants if funded to shorten timelines and reduce costs. Commissioners offered brief thanks and had no substantive objections. The commission had provided a letter of support for the grant application.
If awarded, the project is intended to produce a prioritized, actionable plan to help local governments and utilities identify infrastructure investments intended to attract space and advanced manufacturing firms.
