Latest news with #RAISE
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Johnstown Central Park renovation funding sparks controversy
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — The multi-million dollar renovation project of Johnstown's Central Park is moving forward and so is the fierce debate over where the money came from and how it should be used. The City of Johnstown received millions of dollars in relief funding following the COVID-19 pandemic from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The council earmarked it for upgrades to Central Park. The federal guidelines for how that money could be spent may be unclear and there's debate as to whether those funds should cover the cost of a park renovation estimated at up to $8 million. City manager Art Martynuska recently told WTAJ the project is on track with plans having been approved Thursday. Johnstown City Council approves designs for Central Park project 'The original plan was going for about $6 million. We hope to be around that same amount, if not lower,' Martynuska said. But Representative Frank Burns (D-72nd District) questions the price tag and the use of these particular funds. 'Casual upgrades, small upgrades to the park people are fine with. But 6 to 8 million in Central Park is ridiculous. And what people really wanted is meaningful things in their community and infrastructure,' Burns said. Burns proposed the money be put towards renovating or building a new police department, tearing down blighted homes or even building a new grocery store. But council has stated they believe the money must be put towards the park. 'City council members are telling us a former city manager, Ethan Imhoff, has misled them and they were told that they had to spend this money on the park…That's at least what they're telling us now, that they had to spend 6 to 8 million on Central Park as part of the Main Street program, which is not true at all,' Burns said. In a letter sent to each council member in May 2024, Burns stated he felt the lines were blurred between the ARPA funding and the city's RAISE grant when it came to how the project would be funded. The city's RAISE grant had to be used for transportation projects and could not be used for the park, according to the department of transportation who awarded the grant. WTAJ reached out to former Johnstown city manager Ethan Imhoff. He did not agree to a recorded interview but, in a phone conversation, said the decision to spend the money on the park was already made before he became the city manager. The grant specified that the money had to be allocated by the start of the year meaning the city has to move forward with current plans. It remains unclear whether this is an appropriate use of the funds as the grant was intended to be invested into COVID-19 response efforts or to address economic impacts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Portage RDC starts work on bond to open 450 acres to development; Marquette Greenway segment is included
The Portage Redevelopment Commission started the process of issuing a $10 million bond to pay for a bridge and other infrastructure improvements to open up about 450 acres on the city's north side for development. The RDC adopted a preliminary resolution for the bond Thursday, the first step in borrowing the money. The resolution covers hiring Barnes & Thornburg to do legal work for the bond. Redevelopment Director Dan Botich said the work includes connecting Burns Parkway to U.S. 12 from the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission office on Southport Road in the Ameriplex complex. The work is important not just for opening land for development but also for extending the Marquette Greenway, which will eventually stretch from Chicago to New Buffalo, Michigan. The roadway will become a boulevard similar to national park roads, Botich said. The $10 million would be the local share of the project's total cost. Botich is still looking for funds for the remainder, including a potential federal RAISE grant or state READI funding. Once the road is completed, the city could see a $450 million to $500 million investment in that 450 acres, Botich said. The state requires the city to have 'skin in the game,' he said, so the bond is needed. Further along in the process, specific projects will be listed, Botich said. Mayor Austin Bonta said the city investigated other avenues for funding the road and trails, and the bond seemed the most appropriate option. 'You don't have to go for the maximum,' Botich said, if other funding sources arise. The $10 million figure sets a maximum amount to borrow, just as the maximum interest rate for the 20-year bond would be 7%. Portage Township School Board member Wilma Vazquez, a nonvoting member of the RDC, asked about the RDC's outstanding bond obligations. That's going to be spelled out in a work session next month, and it's listed in the RDC's annual report, Botich said. The RDC is also looking at residential tax increment financing districts for future subdivisions, including Bauer Farm and Sandy Trail, Botich said. The RDC delayed action on the proposal for another month while the city works out details with developers. Botich said the TIF plan calls for the developers to pay a fee to the city up front that would be used for a variety of purposes, including raises for police officers approved by the City Council this month. That annual fee would disappear when the subdivision is considered fully built out, meaning 90% of the lots have been developed. The fee would vary for each subdivision. 'The numbers will be different because of the size of the neighborhoods and the investment involved,' Bonta explained. Developers hope to see the program details ironed out within 30 days, Botich said. The RDC also agreed to budget up to $300,000 next year for the north side sewer interceptor project. That helps pay for relocating the planned major sewer line away from north side acreage so the property retains its high dollar value. The RDC purchased that property shortly before the city went to bid on the project, utilities department General Superintendent Tracie Marshall said. The city had built in $500,000 for that contingency, but the actual cost turned out to be up to $800,000. With the RDC paying the extra amount next year, the work can go forward. 'I want to stress it's not because utilities did anything wrong,' Bonta said. The city had designed the interceptor in the most cost-efficient way, but running the interceptor down the middle of that parcel would devalue the property, he said.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MARTA to resume Five Points transformation project, bus routes will be impacted
MARTA announced that work would start up again on its Five Points Station transformation project. Starting May 17, Saturday, the project will have multiple downtown bus routes detoured. During the deconstruction process, there will still be street-level station and elevator and bus access on Forsyth Street, and transfers won't be affected. MARTA said 'the first phase of the project for the Five Points Station transformation includes deconstruction and removal of the current concrete canopy. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After, they'll have work crews build a new one, improve the centralized bus hub and pedestrian connection to broad street and undergo efforts to incorporate community spaces, public art and agriculture. Overall, the project is expected to cost $230 million, funded mainly through an Atlanta half-penny sales tax from the More MARTA initiative, with another $13.8 million provided by the state of Georgia and $25 million from a federal RAISE grant. The remainder of funding will come from the MARTA core penny. TRENDING STORIES: DeKalb County pastor involved in $2.5 million legal battle over deal to sell church Looking to buy a new home? Not in this neighborhood. The new trend hitting metro Atlanta Cox Communications, Charter combining in major deal In addition to the Saturday start of bus detours, MARTA said certain customer services will be impacted beginning June 6. Those services include the RideStore, Lost and Found and Reduced Fare office. Those offices at Five Points Station will be temporarily moved, along with MARTA HOPE and the MARTA Police Precinct. New locations for them during the closure have not been released yet. The following routes will stop at Five Points on Forsyth Street: 3 – Martin Luther King Jr. Drive/Auburn Avenue 40 – Peachtree Street/Downtown 813 – Atlanta University Center 21 – Memorial Drive 49 – McDonough Boulevard 55 – Jonesboro Road 107 – Glenwood 186 – Rainbow Road Drive/South DeKalb Three bus routes will be detoured to maintain service to Downtown and no longer stop at Five Points: 26 – Marietta Street/Perry Boulevard 42 – Pryor Road 816 – North Highland Avenue The following routes will terminate at Georgia State Station: 21 – Memorial Drive 42 – Pryor Road 49 – McDonough Boulevard 55 – Jonesboro Road 107 – Glenwood 186 – Rainbow Road Drive/South DeKalb The following routes will terminate at King Memorial Station: 26 – Marietta Street/Perry Boulevard 813 – Atlanta University Center 899 – Old Fourth Ward The following route will terminate at Civic Center Station: 816 – North Highland Avenue MARTA said regional transit partner buses, like CobbLinc, Ride Gwinnett and Xpress will still run on time. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Vermont to get $22 million for Solar for All program
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) – Vermont's Department of Public Service announced new funding Tuesday for affordable housing developers to provide energy with solar panels. The $22.34 million award is more than a third of Vermont's grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is part of the federal Solar for All program. The program was created with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, as well as of reducing the cost of solar energy for lower-income households. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency, or VHFA, will be in charge of distributing the grant to developers who will install solar arrays either on rooftops or at ground-level. 'Currently, towns with the highest energy burden in Vermont have the least amount of installed solar,' said Department of Public Service commissioner Kerrick Johnson. 'That's why the primary objective of this program is to deliver benefits to disadvantaged Vermonters, regardless of their dwelling status.' The program also includes the RAISE program, which will allow low-income Vermonters to save money by installing solar panels on their houses. 'VHFA is excited to participate in this historic program,' said VHFA Executive Director Maura Collins. 'Solar power will also help affordable housing developers become part of the climate solution by offsetting the increased costs associated with heating with electricity.' VHFA will hold outreach sessions with developers and other community members over the coming months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Chicago Tribune
04-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Munster hires new town manager
After more than a year, the Town of Munster has hired a new Town Manager. The Town Council last month approved James Marino to serve as its new town manager. He takes over for Patricia Abbott, who's juggled the town manager and comptroller roles for the town since former Town Manager Dustin Anderson resigned in February 2024. Marino, who grew up in Calumet City, Illinois, has 35 years of experience in municipal government, including a start in his hometown, where he got his first job after earning a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Pittsburgh, he said in an email. Along with his time in Calumet City, he's served as Village Manager for the Villages of Dolton, Illinois; Thornton, Illinois; Homewood, Illinois and Crest Hill, Illinois, he said. As Homewood's village manager, Marino's experiences hew closely to projects on which Munster is currently embarking. He initiated an $11 million renovation to Homewood's Metra commuter train station, he said, as well as led a $1.2 million streetscape project and negotiated development agreements to attract and retain national and local businesses, he said. 'My areas of expertise include economic development, finance and budgeting, infrastructure projects, and project management,' Marino said. 'I'm excited to use my experience to help the Town of Munster continue to be a premier community for years to come.' Marino's contract runs through 2027 at a salary of $150,000 per year, according to Munster Clerk-Treasurer Wendy Mis. Anderson who had worked for the Town of Munster since 2014, resigned as Town Manager February 2, 2024 over a fundamental difference in the vision for the town. Anderson was instrumental in helping the town receive a $17.1 million Federal Highway Administration RAISE grant to reconfigure into three lanes from five Munster's portion of Ridge Road from the Illinois border to the Highland border; the current Town Council has petitioned the agency to keep the road at five lanes. The Council on October 7 sent the FHWA a letter outlining the changes it wants to make to its grant application, declaring that present and future traffic volumes don't allow for a three-lane roadway, the Post-Tribune previously reported. But in a report dated October 25 that the Post-Tribune obtained, Abell Gelaye, a design policy/geometrics program manager with the FHWA's Indiana division, reminded the Town that the project's purpose is 'to enhance safety for both vehicles and pedestrians by transforming the corridor into a walkable downtown destination.' '… the recommendation in the PE Assessment report for a five-lane section does not address the grant application award,' Gelaye wrote, adding that further justification of the safety benefits may be needed. 'We believe the project satisfies the purpose and needs as agreed to by a full range of stakeholders. … 'Given the high competitiveness of this grant, it is essential that all terms and conditions are strictly followed.'
