Public works director: ‘We have determined to pivot’
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
A grant program that could have contributed $50 million to the city of Ashland’s water treatment plant project has become another federal funding source cut by the Trump administration.
Ashland was several steps into the process to pursue a Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) grant from the Federal Department of Emergency Management for its water treatment plant project when the grant program was canceled by FEMA, according to an email sent to Ashland City Council by Public Works Director Scott Fleury and obtained by Ashland.news.
“We have determined to pivot to FEMA’s Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant Program,” Fleury said.
Under the guidance of staff at the Oregon Office of Emergency Management, Ashland will focus on this alternative grant opportunity that has not been cut for current or future projects. Fleury said he is still working with consultants and does not yet have details on how much funding this grant could provide in what timeline. The city of Ashland’s water treatment plant relocation and rebuild project is estimated to cost between $50 and 75 million, as previously reported by Ashland.news.
The city is still working with the Environmental Protection Agency on WIFIA loan funding for the project.
“We have the loan term sheet, draft loan agreement, master bond declaration, IFA loan amendments and environmental documentation closeout, all in a good place and expect to close the loan itself in late June based on EPA timelines for processing everything,” Fleury said.
A post on the FEMA website dated April 4 was titled “FEMA Ends Wasteful, Politicized Grant Program, Returning Agency to Core Mission of Helping Americans Recovering from Natural Disasters.” BRIC grants had been alloted $1 billion over five years through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Through around 450 applications, $133 million in funds had been provided, according to the post.
FEMA has cancelled the program for all 2024 sub-applicants and funding for all previously awarded projects not yet in construction or in a final grant agreement, Fleury said in the email. The Medford Water Commission and city of Grants Pass had both been awarded funds but not yet received them, Fleury said.
When asked how the loss of the BRIC grant could affect overall funding for the project, Fleury said it won’t.
“The project budget and associated rate structure for the water system is not impacted by the potential future loss of grant funding through the BRIC program. The city was hoping to get additional grant funds, but the city is not reliant on them,” he said.
Grant funding the city may receive will reduce the amount borrowed from the EPA funding — which the city is fortunate to have — and could help alleviate subsequent water rate increases, he said.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at morganr@ashland.news.
