MOUNT VERNON — Officials from a number of Knox County communities and organizations met with the Knox County Board of Commissioners and consultant Amy Schocken to express interest in funding opportunities from standard grants provided annually to the county.
Schocken serves as coordinator through the labyrinth of regulations that surround the grants. Grants include Community Development Block Grants, the Community Housing Improvement Program, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program and others. The first applications, for CHIP, are due April 1. Other grants have later due dates.
“Our storm-water drainage didn’t get done in our previous project,” said Paul Chapman, representing Howard, which has had some grant-funded projects under way, including last year’s sidewalk installations. Patty Frazee, Liberty Township, said the township was seeking funds for the paving of alleyways in Mount Liberty, including Thatcher Lane and Lundy Lane. Kim Marshall of the Knox County Park District expressed an interest in grants for improvements to the county’s bike trails.
Jeanette Carpenter of the Knox County Board for the Developmentally Disabled was seeking funding for a parking lot expansion, adding 25 vehicle places. Danville’s Robert Shipley was looking for money to pave the parking lot at Memorial Park, which he said has deteriorated badly in the last few years.
Schocken said May 7 is the deadline for proposals seeking CDBG funds. She advised the officials to firm up their projects and get cost estimates for their proposals. She also advised the commissioners it might be a good idea to set aside funds for a sidewalk project in Bladensburg.
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