HomeMy WebLinkAboutgrant application to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, US Dept. of Commerce_8Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: David Fine, Economic Development Specialist Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Ratify the City Manager’s signature on a planning and local technical
assistance grant application to the U.S. Economic Development
Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce (EDA). MEETING DATE: April 7, 2014
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
RECOMMENDATION:
Ratify the City Manager’s signature on the EDA grant application for the purpose of partially
finding the Bozeman Broadband Master Plan.
BACKGROUND:
This EDA planning and local technical assistance grant, if awarded, will partially fund a
comprehensive broadband master plan for a community fiber optic network. The Economic
Development Department is seeking technical assistance in its effort to increase access to affordable, high-speed, fiber optic delivered broadband services throughout the City. We are soliciting proposals assessing the feasibility of various courses of action, including fiscally
sustainable business models, broadband infrastructure construction planning, and broadband
facilitation strategies, based on an assessment of community needs and involving community
stakeholders. UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None at this time.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
FISCAL EFFECTS: EDA technical assistance grants require a 1:1 match. The estimated total cost of the broadband master plan is $90,000. We are requesting $45,000 from EDA, which we
anticipate will be matched by $25,000 from Big Sky Trust Fund, Montana Department of
Commerce. The remaining $20,000 match will be raised from our stakeholders. Stakeholders
include the City of Bozeman, Bozeman School District #7, Downtown Bozeman Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District, Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Northwestern Energy, and the Bozeman Chamber of Commerce. In the event that EDA funds cannot be secured, additional funds will be
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Commission Memorandum
sought from the stakeholder group to fund any deficit in the required match. At this time,
$55,000 in potential matching funds has been committed to this project by the stakeholder group.
Attachments: Economic Development Administration grant application Report compiled on: March 27, 2014
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