Apple Valley seeking $1.4 million in Met Council grants
by Andrew Miller
Thisweek Newspapers
The city of Apple Valley is seeking nearly $1.4 million in grants from the Metropolitan Council for projects that include trail connections, a fiber-optic conduit for businesses and acquisition of land for senior housing.
The city has until July 15 to submit its final applications to the Met Council for the Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) grant program, which has $9 million available.
Grants for which the city is seeking LCDA support include:
• $174,800 for sidewalk and trails connecting the Central Village district to the Apple Valley Transit Station;
• $600,000 for land acquisition in the Cobblestone Lake neighborhood for future senior housing, and $300,000 to complete a restroom/kiosk building, performance stage and trail connections in Cobblestone Park;
• $120,000 for installation of a fiber-optic conduit along the business corridor between Pilot Knob Road and Flagstaff Avenue; and
• $171,300 for improvements to the Time Square Shopping Center, including creation of “gathering spots” and sidewalk connections to the Cedar Avenue corridor.
The City Council OK’d the grant requests, which were prepared by city staff, at its May 12 meeting in order to meet the Met Council’s preliminary application deadline of May 20.
Cities receiving LCDA grants for 2012 will be notified in December, according to Bruce Nordquist, Apple Valley’s community development director.
LCDA grants Apple Valley received in 2010 include: $60,000 to retain a consultant to assist with zoning and design along the Cedar Avenue corridor, and $50,000 to hire a consultant for a market analysis for the recently closed Hanson Concrete Plant site.
Andrew Miller is at andrew.miller@ecm-inc.com.
