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Regional planning rep outlines homeland-security, housing and weatherization funding for Ottawa County
Summary
Debbie Peters of the North Central Regional Planning Commission briefed commissioners on regional DHS/EDA-managed homeland-security projects, weatherization numbers, a demolition grant with slots available to Ottawa County, and business financing programs that can support local projects.
Debbie Peters, representing the North Central Regional Planning Commission (NCRPC), told the Ottawa County Commission that NCRPC acts as a fiscal agent for federal homeland-security dollars routed through the Kansas Highway Patrol and regional councils. She said the region had 42 projects across multiple fiscal years and that NCRPC “receive[s] a 70,000, grant from EDA to do planning and project development in the region,” a planning award that requires local match funding.
Peters summarized housing and community programs available to Ottawa County: a weatherization program that has completed 27 units in the county over the last decade for roughly $230,000 (average benefit about $8,700 per unit) and a “demo to dirt” demolition fund with about four or five demolition slots still available to Ottawa County. She said those demolition awards carry a 25% local match (up to $5,000 per demolition) and that the NCRPC would follow up with county staff on exact eligibility and timing. “We have up to 5,000 per demolition,” Peters said when explaining the matching structure.
Commissioners asked what direct benefits Ottawa County has seen from homeland-security projects; Peters said regional procurement and equipment can be shared across counties and that some assets — such as mobile communications trailers — may be housed in neighboring counties but available to Ottawa County when needed. She agreed to return to the county with more specific, county-level detail about equipment purchases and project allocations. Peters also described business gap-financing and loan-packaging services the commission’s planning office can access through NRCPC-managed programs and partner banks, and noted KDHE-funded water projects and other community development grants the regional office supports.
The presentation prompted follow-up requests from commissioners for written, county-specific breakdowns of which projects and dollars have directly benefited Ottawa County and how residents can access weatherization and demolition assistance. Peters said she would consult NCRPC staff and provide those specifics to county staff in the coming week.
