2009 BUILD PROGRAM ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PLANNING GRANTS
January 09, 2009
Joshua Wescott, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606; Pamela Andros, Dane County Planning and Development (608) 261-9780
County Executive
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is inviting communities to apply for Better Urban Infill Development (BUILD) planning grants. The BUILD program provides grants to Dane County municipalities to support planning that leads to infill development and downtown revitalization.
The grants will pay for part of the cost of hiring planning consultants - a community match is required.
Since Falk began the program in 1999 years, BUILD has funded 66 planning projects in 27 communities throughout the County. In 2008, BUILD grants were awarded to the Cities of Middleton and Stoughton and the Villages of Belleville and Cross Plains.
BUILD funded plans have made an impact throughout the county and lead to downtown revitalization and commercial development, redevelopment, job creation, alternative transportation options, more walkable and bike friendly neighborhoods, as well as new streetscapes and design guidelines that create unique community character. Since the program’s inception in 1999, every BUILD grant dollar has generated nearly $200 in combined public and private investment.
“It’s exciting to see that when citizens come together to envision a better community through a good planning process - they can see the improvements become reality, and help to stimulate their local economy and preserve farmland” said County Executive Falk.
Grants will be awarded to planning efforts that further the objectives of the BUILD program, including making better use of existing infrastructure; locating community services, jobs and shopping in close proximity; stabilizing and enhancing existing neighborhoods, downtowns and other business districts; increasing housing options and jobs for low to moderate-income people; avoiding converting productive farmland on urban fringes and in rural areas; providing viable options to auto trips by supporting walking, biking, and transit; and having the potential to clean up environmentally contaminated sites.
Eligible applicants are local Dane County municipalities. A local match is required.
Application guidelines and information about the BUILD program can be obtained on the County’s web site at: http://www.countyofdane.com/PLANDEV/community/build/ or by contacting Pamela Andros at the Dane County Planning and Development at 261-9780, or andros@co.dane.wi.us. All applications must be postmarked by Friday March 27th, in order to be accepted.
# # #