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Vernonia considers paying for an MHI study to pursue up to $750,000 in grant funding
Summary
Staff told council that the Oregon IFA would accept a third-party median household income (MHI) study; staff will solicit bids and said a study costing less than $10,000 could unlock as much as $750,000 in grant aid if it demonstrates eligibility.
City staff reported the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority (IFA) told Vernonia the city could pay for its own median household income (MHI) study to support grant eligibility. The administrator said she was contacting qualified third parties to obtain price estimates and that a study under $10,000 could be cost-justified if it enabled the city to become eligible for larger grant awards.
"If it's under $10,000, we should do it because, potentially, it's gonna save us up to $750,000," Josette told the council. Staff explained that IFA uses U.S. Census data by default and that a city-specific study can demonstrate a different local MHI that changes grant eligibility thresholds. Josette said staff had consulted Business Oregon about potential third-party providers and would return to council with cost proposals.
Councilors discussed data sources and the value of a study; staff noted that future rounds may adopt different criteria, but that pursuing a study now could materially change the city's capacity to obtain funding for infrastructure.
