Willmar OKs gap funding for part of $1.2M Lakeland Drive off-street path
Jun. 10---- The
unanimously approved tapping the city's Community Investment Fund to temporarily finance improvements of an off-street path along Lakeland Drive from U.S. Highway 12 to Civic Center Drive Northeast.
City engineer Jared Voge of Bolton & Menk informed the council that the project received two grants — an Active Transportation grant in the amount of $204,380 and a Transportation Alternatives grant in the amount of $895,620.
The estimated construction cost of the bike and pedestrian trail is $979,900 and the total estimated cost including administration, contingencies and engineering is $1.2 million, according to information from Voge.
"By being proactive in their pursuit of funding, the city of Willmar has secured funding for approximately 80% of the total project costs associated with a high-priority connection within its bike and pedestrian network," Voge said in an email to the West Central Tribune.
Voge told the council on June 2 that approximately $979,900 of the project costs are eligible for reimbursement from the grants and recommended accepting the full Active Transportation grant and $775,520 of the Transportation Alternatives grant. The city will fund $245,000 of the project costs.
The Community Investment Fund will temporarily finance the $775,520 portion of the costs until the Transportation Alternatives grant becomes available in 2028.
The
was established by the
in 2018 and provides grant funding for the construction of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects that will improve transportation options and reduce vehicle miles traveled, according to information included in a resolution approved by the council at the Dec. 12, 2024, meeting.
During this funding cycle, the
had $12.5 million in state funding to award to selected projects in Greater Minnesota to address safety concerns, equity and engage the community in project development.
The
makes available federal funding for non-motorized infrastructure to applicants across Greater Minnesota and had $12.45 million to award to selected projects, according to information included in the resolution approved Dec. 12, 2024.
The resolutions state that the existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure in Willmar is fragmented, creating safety risk for users and discouraging alternative transportation modes. The existing infrastructure also includes several barriers to accessibility — as identified in Willmar's 2020 Americans with Disabilities Act Transition Plan — that will be addressed by the Lakeland Drive path project.
The resolutions also state that the Lakeland Drive path project will expand multi-modal access to critical employment centers downtown and to the
and
The Active Transportation grant is scheduled for funding in 2026 and projects must be completed in 2026. The Transportation Alternatives grant will not be available until 2028, but can be used to reimburse the city for construction of the path, according to Voge.
The approval to temporarily fund the project using the Community Investment Fund was needed in order to inform the funding agencies that the grants will be accepted, according to Voge.
He also explained that there will be additional agreements and other items that come before the City Council throughout the process of accepting the grants.
Councilors Audrey Nelsen and Tom Gilbertson voiced concerns during the June 2 discussion that the Transportation Alternatives grant is federal funding and asked if there is a potential that the funding would not be disbursed.
"If you're alluding to this uncertainty right now at the federal level, all I can say is that the project has been awarded the funding," Voge said. " ... I can't definitively tell you with 100% certainty that something at the federal level is not going to happen to claw the money back."
He explained that there have been delays on other projects, but not removal of awarded funding through a federally authorized grant program.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
PHIL BRICKELL: 'Spending review will bring real improvements to our area'
As the MP for Bolton West, I'm pleased that the government's 2025 Spending Review will bring real improvements for our area. Its plans will deliver the growth we need to make everyday life better for families and businesses across Blackrod, Bolton, Horwich and Westhoughton. First, with more money for the NHS and our schools. The Chancellor has increased NHS funding by three per cent and committed to the biggest ever investment in NHS building repairs. Having already made significant progress in reducing NHS waiting times, this further investment will help even more in ensuring we all get the swift, good quality care we deserve. Education also sees a major boost, with an extra £2billion in funding. Here in Bolton West, Devonshire Road Primary School has already received support to run a breakfast club, helping children start their day well-fed and ready to learn. And, from 2026, more children will also get free school meals, giving extra help to many local families struggling with the weekly cost of living. Second, with landmark support for more genuinely affordable and warmer houses. The government is investing a blockbuster £39 billion to build 1.5 million new homes across the country, allowing my constituents the opportunity to fulfil their ambition for a secure roof over their heads at a genuinely affordable price. And, after 14 years of neglect by the last government, Greater Manchester will get £73.6 million to improve social housing, making homes more energy-efficient, cutting heating bills and helping the environment. Third, with investment in better transport infrastructure. Good transport links are vital for work, school, and leisure. Greater Manchester will receive an additional £2.5 billion to improve public transport, including bringing rail under the Bee Network and adding 1,000 new electric buses by 2030. Far too much time is currently lost stuck in traffic or waiting on platforms for delayed trains – a frustration I myself feel only too keenly on the way to my office in Horwich. Delays not only impact our collective wellbeing, they also hold us back in terms of our economic productivity. The spending review gets us back on track. Fourth, by ensuring we're stronger both at home and abroad. The Chancellor pledged funding to end the use of hotels as accommodation for those seeking asylum, which spiralled out of control under the Conservatives. Securing our borders and creating a fairer immigration system are key initiatives and I'll continue to work to deliver this. And, as well as securing our borders at home, the further investment in our armed forces will support well-paid, new jobs including at the MBDA site at Logistics North. Finally, by boosting jobs through new trade deals. The government has also secured important new trade deals with India, the United States, and the European Union. These deals cut costs and help industries across the North West, such as car manufacturing and steel production, as well as local firms involved in their supply chains. They'll also secure lower prices for consumers, relying on goods coming from those countries – a win-win for British workers and customers. The 2025 Spending Review is good news and it sets the course for a brighter future. Upon my election, I promised the people of Bolton West that I would deliver a stronger NHS, tackle the cost of living and secure our borders. I'm confident this spending review ensures the government will deliver on those promises. And, as your MP, I'll keep working hard to make sure these benefits reach everyone across our towns.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Fears for the future after market hall put up for auction
Concerns have been voiced after traders arrived at work one morning – to find the market hall listed for auction. Little Lever Market Hall is currently listed for auction on July 8, 2025, with a guide price of £300k. The listing is on RightMove and it is being marketed by Auction House Manchester. The description states the property is a 'well-known market hall' in a 'prominent main road position in Little Lever, Bolton.' It says that it is 'set up as a market hall with stall areas including a bakery and café.' The description adds: 'The property may be suitable for sympathetic redevelopment/development for apartments subject to the necessary consents.' One market trader, who wants to stay anonymous, said: 'Obviously the worry is someone comes in with a lot of money – maybe from London – buys the building and knocks it down to build flats.' They said that all of the traders have known the hall has been for sale for about 18 months – but the auction listing came as a shock. The trader said: 'We haven't been given any notice – when we came back into work on Monday the sign was up. 'We knew it was up for sale, and they haven't been able to sell it." Liam Barnard, councillor for Little Lever and Darcy Lever, said he hoped any buyer would keep the market in place. He said: 'It's a focal point in Little Lever with shops and a cafe that I use regularly – hopefully whoever buys it will keep it as its current use.' Cllr Barnard said that it was 'concerning' that redevelopment into flats was listed as a potential use. He said: 'Not because I don't think we need more houses, but it's a place where people can gather. 'To me – that's the sort of stuff we need in Little Lever – if you turn it into flats then we lose that commodity that they would use.' Have a story? Get in touch at The trader said that one of the market stalls has been there for over 35 years, and that all four traders in the building have spent years building their reputation. The trader said: 'Bolton is just in massive decline – but 20 years ago it was absolutely thriving – the town centre has just been left to suffer. 'This market hall has stood the test of time and the local people have kept this going for 35 years. READ MORE: Bolton at Home house relisted for auction at £65,000 READ MORE: Little Lever Health Centre still cause for concern say watchdog READ MORE: Dearden Street, Little Lever could be made one way 'The community holds us in good regard with all the friendships and reputations we have built. 'A lot of families within Little Lever – mums, dads and grandparents – all still come in here. 'It would be a sad thing to see it go.'
Business Insider
13-06-2025
- Business Insider
There's never a perfect time to have a baby — but 2025 is looking pretty tough
Carolyn Bolton and her husband have wanted kids since they met five years ago. The timing, however, has never been ideal. During the housing crisis in 2021, the couple struggled to afford a home near Washington, DC, where they now rent. At the time, Bolton also wanted to move up in her career, "waiting for that next level that would ease the financial burden a little bit," Bolton, 37, an advocacy manager at the National Council for Adoption, told Business Insider. Even though they felt ready for kids last year, they hit some roadblocks to parenthood. After a couple of miscarriages, they consulted a fertility doctor and may need to consider IVF, which ranges in cost from $15,000 to $30,000. They also have concerns around how AI may impact the job market, as Bolton's husband is a tech editor for the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "That's definitely worrying us a little bit, financially," Bolton said. "But I'm also 37, so now's the time, especially if we want more than one child." They're not alone. At a time of economic uncertainty, prospective parents understandably feel stuck on whether — or when — they should start trying. It will undoubtedly be harder to financially prepare for a baby when essentials like strollers can cost $300 more. Tariffs are already making basic household items more expensive. Recessions, or worries of them, tend to lower birth rates. "Historically, fertility has moved with the economy," Melanie Guldi, an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Florida, told Business Insider. "When times are good, people have more babies; when times are bad, people have fewer babies." Beyond day-to-day costs and general stability, "parents are also really concerned about the costs of what it would take to give their would-be children a good life," Karen Benjamin Guzzo, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina and director of the Carolina Population Center, told BI. On top of groceries, they want to be able to financially swing birthday parties, extracurriculars, and quality day care services. "You want the American dream, and it seems like the American dream is different now than when we were kids," Bolton said. Ultimately, deciding on when to have kids is highly personal, and not everyone is comfortable delaying the process. Still, if you have the flexibility and want to be on more solid financial ground first, experts say it might behoove you to wait. It's harder to save for babies right now The costs of having a kid were already rising in pre-tariff times. Delivery, on average, is around $2,800 after insurance. Then, there are astronomical childcare costs. In states like California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts, parents spend over $30,000 on average annually to raise one child, with more than half going to day care services. Because day cares typically charge higher rates for infants than toddlers, having two children in day care at the same time can cost families $60,000 a year in areas like Washington, DC. Tariffs tack on extra financial strain. More than 70% of baby gear is made in China, the target of the largest tariffs. "Cribs, car seats, strollers, toys — everything is going to be more expensive if tariffs are applied," Guzzo said. (As of now, the tariffs are under a 90-day pause until mid-August). Zooming out, the bigger economic picture also doesn't spell stability. It's not a great time to buy a house or switch to a higher-paying job. It's also not ideal to retire right now — something to consider if you plan on relying on grandparental care. "There are a lot of things that are going to make raising families much harder and more expensive," Guzzo said. "I think that will weigh negatively on people's decisions to have kids." Future policies might help, but it's a gamble The good news for people hoping to conceive soon is that politicians, from the Trump administration to New York City's mayoral candidates, are promising to institute policies that would make parenthood more attainable in an effort to raise the US's record-low birth rate and keep their working parent voters. Bolton hoped Trump, who ran on a campaign promise to drastically reduce IVF costs, would have announced some new guidance by now. One Trump administration proposal shared with aides was to give families a $5,000 cash "baby bonus" for giving birth. Still, it will unlikely ease the financial burdens parents face, based on evidence from other countries that have tried similar incentives. Japan brought in four-day workweeks, but that didn't change the fertility trajectory. Sweden, with some of the best financial support for parents in the world, has a dwindling birth rate. What pushes people to have more babies — or delay them — is tricky to study. Guldi said we have a breadth of economic and demographic research into fertility patterns around the Great Depression and post-World War II, two hugely destabilizing periods in the 20th century. Even still, there's no one factor researchers can point to that would encourage another baby boom. Guldi said that if politicians want to encourage people to have more kids (and meaningfully help parents), they will have to adopt a multi-pronged approach, with more than one policy at play. For starters, Guzzo said, politicians need to focus on policies that would bring the US in line with most industrialized countries. The US doesn't offer national parental leave, and has the second-most expensive childcare system in the world. Policies targeting these two issues could make having kids more feasible and affordable. However, Guldi pointed out that even European nations like Finland and Spain with more robust parental support are dealing with record-low birth rates. "While these policies might nudge people to have a child, you're not going to have people that weren't going to have kids all of a sudden have two kids," she added. Weigh how long you can wait Timing when you have kids is as much a personal decision as having them in the first place. Guldi said it all boils down to how precarious your financial situation feels and how prepared you are for the future. "It will depend on the individual, how they evaluate that uncertainty," she said. For some, feeling secure in their industries and having family to help out might be enough to weather higher costs. Meanwhile, parents who already have a child might want to wait to have a second to save on day care costs. Beyond immediate finances, Guzzo said people who want to have a child with another person often need to feel secure in their partnerships before considering kids. Not only do dual-parent households usually have more money to spend, but divorced or single parents can accrue additional financial strain, especially in a potential recession. Having more control over when you have kids is also why parents are having them later or not at all, Guzzo said. "I don't think it's that people are really deciding not to have kids," she said. "I think people are deciding, over and over again, not right now." For people who feel they can't wait any longer to try for kids, their past experiences navigating a rocky economy can strangely reassure them. "I'm an elder millennial, I feel like we've lived through so many economic downturns," Bolton said. " There's never going to be a good time to have or not have a kid."
