Manchester May Get Grant To Revitalize Downtown Area
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NORTH MANCHESTER - If grant applications are approved, North Manchester could get a new look.
Wednesday evening, Tina Henderson, grant writer, held a public hearing for a grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affair's Community Focus Fund of the Community Development Block Grant program.The grant, if approved, will be used to revitalize the North Manchester downtown area with improvements such as new sidewalks, lighting and trees along Main Street between Market and Mill streets.
The grant application asks for $255,000 toward the project, which has been estimated at a total of $500,000. The rest of the money would come from non-CDBG funds such as the County Economic Development Income Tax.
The town also has applied for a grant to repair and update the facades of the buildings in the downtown area. Henderson said the town is eligible to apply for a disaster recovery grant to make repairs on Walnut Street.
In other business, the council:
n Received a fee for service contract from Bill Konyha, executive director of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County. The preliminary contract, which was not signed Wednesday evening, outlines specific duties EGD will do for the town. Once the final contract, which will be given to Wabash City and county entities, has been ironed out, the town will look over it and sign it.
n Approved the continuation of a tax abatement for HF Group. This is the last year on a five-year abatement on equipment at the company.
n Heard the police department would like to look into replacing Buddy, the town's K-9 officer. Buddy is tired and ready for retirement and needs to be replaced.
n Heard an ordinance may need to be written regarding the use of golf carts in town. Town Manager Dan Hannaford explained the state has banned golf carts from state highways, but left the decision about town roads to town officials. A committee was formed to look into drafting an ordinance. Members of the committee are Hannaford, board member Laura Rager, town attorney Matt Mize and town marshal Jeffrey Perry.
