February 25, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
DeKalb County is in the hunt for another Community Development Block Grant.
During Monday night’s regular monthly meeting, the County Commission adopted a resolution to apply for up to a $420,000 Community Development Block Grant through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. If approved, the county would be responsible for paying a 16% local grant match. The Upper Cumberland Development District would make application on behalf of the county and administer the grant upon approval by the state.
This grant would go toward funding a new ambulance. County Mayor Matt Adcock said based on estimates, the county could buy a new ambulance for around $250,000. Previous grants have been to fund fire trucks and equipment for the county fire department.
Before the vote, Commissioner Tim Reynolds asked if the county could use the grant, if approved to fund chassis remounts on two current ambulances in the fleet rather than buy one new ambulance. County Mayor Adcock said he wasn’t sure if that qualifies but he would inquire with UCDD.
Commissioner Myron Rhody then asked if the county could just buy two brand new ambulances outright if the grant is fully funded since it would almost pay for two. County Mayor Adcock said he had recently posed the same question to Tommy Lee, Deputy Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District who said that the county’s chances for getting the grant might be less if it tried for two ambulances rather than one.
The resolution states that “ Whereas, DeKalb County needs to improve community livability through the purchase of new emergency medical services equipment to meet the needs of the citizens of the county; and
Whereas, emergency medical service equipment projects are eligible activities under the Community Development Block Grant Program; and
Whereas, DeKalb County is eligible for a maximum grant of $420,000 under the Community Development Block Grant Community Livability category including the three-star bonus; and
Whereas, DeKalb County has agreed to pay the required 16% of the local total project cost (based on the DeKalb County 20% Ability-to-Pay rate with the ThreeStar 4-point match reduction), plus any additional funding required to complete the project beyond the grant amount”.