Marion County receives RISE grant for Hwy 163 road safety improvements
Jun. 16—KNOXVILLE — Marion County has been awarded a RISE grant to improve road safety on Highway 163 for LDJ Manufacturing.
The Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) Grant Program, distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provides assistance to "create and augment high-wage jobs, accelerate the formation of new businesses, support industry clusters and maximize the use of local productive assets in eligible low-income rural areas."
Funds from the grant can be used to build or support a business incubator facility; provide worker training to assist and create new jobs; train the existing workforce with skills for higher-paying jobs; and develop a base of skilled workers to improve their opportunities to obtain high-wage jobs in new or existing local industries.
The grant will provide funding to improve the current gravel median crossover that separates both sides of the highway located across LDJ Manufacturing's property entrance. The company, located in Pella, manufactures diesel fuel and service trailers in the agriculture and construction industries.
CEO Loren Van Wyk first requested the county apply for the grant at a Marion County Board of Supervisors meeting in early March, citing his concern for the safety of his employees. According to Van Wyk, the gravel median poses a risk for his employees who cross it daily due to dust, frequent potholes and crossing traffic with speeds of 65-70 miles per hour.
Additionally, Van Wyk said the improvements are needed to expand their current facility. According to a project agreement between the county and LDJ, the company's expansion will create 45 additional full-time jobs in the next three years with an additional 12 employees after that time. The company estimates these new positions will generate $1.8 million annually in new earnings for the county.
Supervisors approved said agreement and a contract with LDJ, in addition to an agreement with the Iowa Department of Transportation for the grant at their meeting Tuesday. They also approved an agreement for engineering services with Garden and Associates.
Garden and Associates will be responsible for constructing turn lanes associated with the project.
"Their estimate of services was included in the grant application, which exceeded the 15% allowable by the grant. So there will be a $16,000 share that you would have to come up with as the county outside of what the RISE grant would fund," said Tyler Christian, Marion County engineer.
The total cost of the project is estimated at $281,251. The RISE grant will reimburse the county for 80% of project costs, or $225,001. The county will be responsible for an estimated $72,500 that is not covered by the grant, which includes the estimated $16,000 engineering fee.
In other news:
— Supervisors approved putting Pella's 1% Local Option Sales and Services Tax on the special election ballot slated for Sept. 13, 2022. Constituents in Pella will have the opportunity to vote for the renewal of the city's LOSST, which expires Dec. 31, 2023. The LOSST will provide $18.2 million in funding for city projects, including a new recreational facility and updates to the Pella Community Center, among others.
— Supervisors approved a 15-year Urban Renewal Plan for the city of Pella. This will give ATI Group the opportunity to be reimbursed for $2.4 million in public infrastructure costs for phase one of the new Timber View housing development. The development will provide an additional 58 single-family attached homes, 37 single-family detached homes and a new city park.
— Supervisors approved the adoption and appropriation of a county budget amendment for fiscal year 2022. The amendment appropriated money to multiple county departments, including $800,000 for the roads department, $736,906 to the conservation department, $368,664 to public health and $6.1 million to non-departments. These changes are the result of multiple projects, grants and programs in said departments, including ARPA and General Obligation Bond projects. Supervisor Chair Mark Raymie and Marion County Auditor Jake Grandia said these funds are not from new taxpayer money but are redistributed from existing county funds.
Emily Hawk is the associate editor of the Ottumwa Courier and the Oskaloosa Herald. She can be reached at ehawk@oskyherald.com.
