Pool project lands $562,00 grant

Grant’s new pool project got a huge financial boost last week with the approval of a $562,000 grant. 

The  award was made by the  Nebraska Department of Economic Development through its Civic and Community Center Financing Fund.

Ashley Weesner, grant administrator for Miller & Associates in Kearney wrote and prepared the grant application. The city submitted the application Feb. 13. 

Weesner said she is excited for Grant and Perkins County community. She said the community has shown overwhelming support for the new pool.

She noted in the application the city received more than 100 letters in support of the project.

In addition, pool supporters have raised $270,000 in donations and pledges. 

Then, in November 2018, voters in the City of Grant approved a bond issue of up to $2.4 million for the new pool.

The project has been on the drawing board for at least a decade. 

In 2012, voters approved a one-cent sales tax, of which half was designated for the pool project. The other half-cent went to the city’s street improvement fund. 

Since its inception, $685,000 in sales tax receipts have been earmarked for the pool.

The city has projected applying at least $400,000 of that as their down payment on the project, which engineers estimate at $2.4 million. This would leave a reserve to make annual bond payments. 

In addition, one-half cent in sales tax will continue to be collected and earmarked for the pool. 

Bid opening April 23

The amount of bonds to be sold will be determined after bids are open, Dunn said. Bid opening is now scheduled for Thursday, April 23, via a zoom meeting. 

The council will likely act on the bids during their April 28 meeting, which will also be a Zoom meeting. 

 

The Grant Tribune-Sentinel

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PO Box 67
327 Central Ave in Grant
Grant NE 69140