Supervisors approve grant proposal for updating county roads

The Washington County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal for a grant that would allow funding assistance for a reconstruction project on 300th Street, Kiwi Avenue and 290th Street.

Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius said the county is putting in for a RISE Grant (Revitalize Iowa's Sound Economy) through the Iowa DOT. The grant would be for $250,000 and would go toward roads utilized by Premier 1 Supplies.

According to the Iowa DOT website, RISE Grants are 'targeted toward value-adding activities that feed new dollars into the economy and provide maximum economic impact to the state on primary or secondary roads, and city streets open for public use.”

The listed roads are eligible for the grant because of Premier 1 Supplies' expected expansion. The company has outgrown its 65,000 square foot distribution center and will build out an additional 40,000 square foot add-on, which is expected to add 40 additional jobs to the company.

A letter sent to the supervisors states the road reconstruction is necessary because although the existing roads are sufficient for normal traffic, the rural sections of the roads are not sufficient for increased and heavier traffic that is expected to take place as Premier 1 Supplies moves forward with their plan.

The Iowa DOT will meet next month to decide whether or not to award the grant to Washington County. The vote was approved 4-0. Supervisor Richard Young was absent at Tuesday's meeting.