New funding available for ‘livable community’ projects
Akron has a chance to compete for two $40,000 grants to support “livable communities through transportation planning” that will be awarded in March, according to Heather Davis Reidl, the mobility planner with Akron Metropolitan Area Transportation Study (AMATS). She announced the grants during the AMATS Citizens Involvement Committee meeting on Dec. 7.
The funding comes from the Connecting Communities Planning Grant Program, which has awarded $550,000 to multiple metro Akron communities through seven rounds of funding.
Applications will be accepted Jan. 3 through Feb. 9. Groups must submit legislation (sample here) with their applications. Individual communities can only submit two grant applications.
For 60 years, AMATS has managed federal funding for transportation projects across the Akron area. This includes all of Summit and Portage counties and part of Wayne County. Akron accounts for almost a third of the region’s population, according to the AMATS website.
Review of 118 project proposals underway
AMATS Director Curtis Baker reported that 118 project proposals have been received by the agency through multiple programs administered by the group, with an overall funding request of $165 million.
One program, for example, is the Carbon Reduction Program, which focuses on improving air quality and eliminating emissions from vehicles. This program has $23 million to disburse and received 17 project applications.
Baker anticipates that only a quarter of the projects will be approved. He said final approvals will be made in late January.
