By Adam Studzinski
NORMAL – The Town of Normal is preparing to submit an application for a federal economic development grant, but town officials said chances of receiving the grant are slim.
“There’s almost an expectation that you have to apply two, or three, even four times before you’re going to get selected,” said City Manager Mark Peterson. “It’s rare that the first time you put in they select your project because there are many projects that have been submitted multiple times.”
The grant would be used to help construct a pedestrian crossing for the railroad tracks at Uptown Station. Peterson added the town is still in the early phases of designing that project – they haven’t even completed a feasibility study for it yet.
“Usually, they’re going to want to see that phase one feasibility study completed before they’re give you funding,” said Peterson. “By going through the process now, we will learn a lot for future years.”
This is the same type of federal grant Normal received to help build Uptown Station.
Meanwhile, the town has hired CHG & Associates out of Washington D.C. which will help Normal search for additional federal grants to apply for.
Adam Studzinski can be reached at adam.studzinski@cumulus.com.
