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Brookings County Commission approves $1.6 million federal planning grant for rural transportation work
Summary
The commission unanimously approved a $1,600,000 Rural and Tribal Assistance Program planning grant from the Build America Bureau (U.S. Department of Transportation) to fund preliminary engineering, environmental and public engagement work; the award covers planning only and requires no local match.
The Brookings County Commission unanimously approved an agreement to accept a $1,600,000 federal planning grant from the Build America Bureau at its July 9 meeting.
Whelan, the presenter invited to explain the award, told the commission: "Obviously, they have indicated in there the $1,600,000 grant maximum." He said the grant covers planning activities — including preliminary engineering, environmental and geotechnical work, landowner and public engagement, and strategic communications — and does not fund construction. "This grant is for, what they call planning, preliminary design and engineering," he said.
A committee member asked how the county identified the opportunity and applied. Whelan described an earlier, unsuccessful BUILD application to the U.S. Department of Transportation, follow-up meetings with USDOT staff, and that the Rural and Tribal Assistance Program opportunity was first-come, first-served; he said county staff prefilled the new application using much of the prior material and submitted it, and the county was notified of the award about six months later. Whelan said the period of performance is expected to start July 27, 2026, and run through July 26, 2029, with the possibility of extensions under applicable federal regulations.
A committee member thanked Whelan and county staff for their work and reiterated that the grant addresses planning and FEMA/core-engineering concerns tied to a flood plain, not immediate construction. "This is just a design phase. It's not a construction phase," the committee member said.
The commission conducted a roll-call vote and recorded five 'Aye' votes (Vanderwall, Post, Miller, Jensen and Hosler); the motion carried.
The county will work with the Build America Bureau and county staff to define the formal scope of services and any subsequent contract after kickoff meetings with program administrators. The grant agreement authorizes the county to proceed with planning activities that could support future construction funding requests.
