Washington County Mini Bus seeks grant to expand facility

Washington County Mini Bus is looking to expand its facility.

Director Chris Gaughan said that the proposed project would add office space, as well as more space for their buses.

“We’re looking at a new addition to our office space and renovations on our existing property,” Gaughan said. “We’ve worked a while to put this together.”

The project will make the Washington County Mini Bus facility, located at 1010 W. Fifth St. in Washington, completely compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The estimated cost of the project is $450,000, Gaughan said.

To raise that money, Washington County Mini Bus is working with the East Central Iowa Council of Governments (ECICOG) to apply for a grant.

On April 29, the ECICOG board agreed to move forward with a grant application on behalf of Washington County Mini Bus.

ECICOG Transit Administrator Brock Grenis explained that ECICIG will apply for the grant “on behalf of and in partnership with” Washington County Mini Bus.

“ECICOG is the transit agency, and Washington County Mini Bus is considered a subcontractor,” Grenis said.

Grenis said that they are applying for a Public Transit Infrastructure Grant through the Iowa Department of Transportation.

“The grant funds infrastructure needs that transit has,” he said.

ECICOG and Washington County Mini Bus are seeking a $340,000 grant.

“We’ll find out early to midsummer,” Grenis said. “The grant will be awarded in the fall of 2021, at which time, the work could begin.”