Smith Administration Grants Approach $25 Million

ANDERSON, IN - Anderson Mayor Kevin S. Smith has received notice of three end-of-year awards totaling nearly $3.3 million. Approval of those awards will bring the city’s four-year grant totals to nearly $25 million.

On Tuesday, Congress passed a federal spending bill that included $2.479 million for Anderson - $400,000 for an intermodal transportation facility and $2.079 million for reconstruction and realignment of the White River levee in downtown Anderson.

Chad Pigg, interim director of Community Development and Long Range Planning, received notice that the Indiana Finance Authority had awarded Anderson $449,674 in Brownfield grants. The funds include $49,674 for assessment of the former EMGE plant at 2000 West 8th Street and $400,000 to complete remediation of the former F.C. Cline Lumber site on Main Street adjacent to the Truman Bridge.

Peter Heuer, general manager of the City of Anderson Transit System, was notified that two new grants have been awarded, totaling $236,130. $58,070 of those funds are dedicated for the creation of a seventh bus route from the downtown to the Flagship, including Nestle, Affiliated Computer Services, Central Indiana Orthopedics and other businesses at I-69 Exit 22. The remaining $178,060 will fund two final new Nifty-Lift vehicles.

Federal Earmarks - $10,829,000 total - Since 2004, the city’s Washington, D.C. lobbyists, the Ferguson Group, have helped to bring in $10.829 million in federal funds, including $4 million for reconstruction of Enterprise Drive in the Flagship Business Park, $1 million for a preliminary engineering and environmental impact studies of a railroad over/underpass at 38th Street and King Boulevard, and $2 million for an Anderson University campus streets project. In addition, $250,000 funded the city’s fiber optic initiative and another $250,000 went to the Flagship Enterprise Center.

Brownfield Assessment and Remediation - $2,079,674 total - Since 2004, major Brownfield eyesores have been razed thanks to federal and state grants, including the former Prime Battery site at 3rd and Jackson, and the former F.C. Cline Lumber structure. The $1,079,674 has paid for environmental assessments and cleanup in other areas of the city. A revolving loan fund also contributes $1 million.

City of Anderson Transit - $3,367,130 total - In 2007, some $2,967,130 in matching grants have paid for complete replacement of the city of Anderson transit fleet, including buses, Nifty Lift vehicles and supervisor vehicles. Included in that amount is an increase in the city’s federal operating grants, from $450,000 in 2004, to $1,095,000 in 2007. Progress has been made toward funding of a new intermodal facility that would replace the downtown CATS terminal.

White River Trails - $1 million total – The state funds are paying for new trails that will extend west from the Truman Bridge along the White River.

Weed and Seed - $1 million total – Many city departments, as well as community groups, worked to complete a successful 5-year grant that will implement the proven crime prevention and urban renewal strategy in Anderson.

Anderson Fire Department - $100,000 total – A grant from Indiana Homeland Security will generate the funds for construction of a classroom in connection with the Anderson Fire Department’s new training center on King Boulevard.

Federal Highway Funds – Over $6 million in federal appropriations through the Indiana Department of Transportation has been received toward street projects since 2004, such as the King Boulevard upgrade.

Source: City of Anderson Press Release 

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