Federally Funded Sidewalk for Greenville
Greenville Council Authorizes Mayor to Apply for $500,000 Federal Sidewalk Grant
The Greenville City Council voted at its regular meeting Tuesday to authorize the mayor to sign documents seeking a $500,000 state Transportation Alternatives Program grant for sidewalk work near the historic Neal Street churches and the city's Bottle Tree site.
A speaker identified in meeting records as Mayor Errick Simmons told the council, "So this grant, we're going to apply for a half a million dollar grant. It's 80% reimbursable." The remaining cost would fall to the city as a local match of roughly $100,000, officials said. The application is due to the state October 1, and no construction spending is expected before the next fiscal year.
Officials said the push to apply followed a recent visit from a Mississippi Transportation Commissioner, who urged the city to seek funding for sidewalks described as deteriorated. The tight turnaround — with the application due within about a day of that visit — illustrates how such grant decisions can hinge on a single commissioner's recommendation. Though no money will be spent this year, the $100,000 match is a real commitment the city will eventually have to budget for.