Local officials are prepared to seek federal stimulus funding for projects, although neither Rome nor Floyd County have prepared comprehensive lists.
“I’ve heard other cities are doing it, but who do you give it to? Just send it to the White House?” City Manager John Bennett said.
Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 — the stimulus package — funnel much of the money through various federal agencies to their state counterparts.
Bennett said if the Georgia Environmental Protection Division calls for projects, the city would submit plans for a sewer lift station on Horseleg Creek.
Rome also has a five-year plan to improve low-income sections of the city using federal entitlement funds. Some of those projects could be eligible for stimulus money flowing through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.
The Georgia Department of Transportation also has a statewide list of “shovel-ready” road projects that includes center turn lanes on Ga. 53. The 411 Connector was a last-minute addition, but the state still needs to buy the right of way so it’s unlikely to fit the stimulus package requirements.
“Quite frankly, we don’t have a lot of projects that are ready to go,” Bennett said. “There are some street pavings, drainage work and sidewalk improvements we’d like to submit. But we don’t have plans for a new city hall, for example.”
County Manager Kevin Poe said the county is in a similar position. Officials are lobbying the DOT to add funding for the west leg of the South Rome bypass, he said, but it’s unclear what other projects could be eligible.
“The only thing that would be shovel-ready is the Armuchee Connector,” he said. “But we’re trying to stay away from federal dollars on that because there are more hoops to jump through.”
The $12-million road and bridge across the Oostanaula River that would link State Mutual Stadium with Old Summerville Road north of Rome is part of the 2006 special purpose, local option sales tax package.
Using stimulus money to pay for sidewalk and drainage projects on Lyons Drive and the Pennington Avenue area could, however, solve a looming problem for the city.
The projects are scheduled to be done with Rome’s Community Development Block Grant funding this year, but could be deferred in favor of replacing docks at Ridge Ferry and Heritage parks that were destroyed by floods early this month.
Environmental Services Director Eric Lindberg said Wednesday the docks will cost an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 to replace and the CDBG appears to be the only funding source at this time.
One section of the stimulus package would provide money for public buildings — and the Coosa Valley Regional Development Center has a shovel-ready project to propose.
The multi-county agency is seeking the support of its members to submit plans to renovate and expand the city-owned building on Jackson Hill where it is housed.
Poe said the project would ensure the headquarters remain in Rome after a planned merger with the Dalton-based North Georgia RDC in July.
The Floyd County Commission is expected to give its approval at a Friday meeting and the Rome City Commission is slated to take up the issue Monday.
Click here to link to a summary of economic stimulus provisions as passed by the House Appropriations Committee.
