Washington's Grant Application for Fifth Street Rejected

The city of Washington won’t be getting a grant to help design improvements along a stretch of Fifth Street.

The city applied for a $240,000 grant through the Great Streets Initiative earlier this month.

If the grant had been approved, the city would have provided a $60,000 match, under terms of the application.

The applications were due Friday, Aug. 3.

Darren Lamb, community and economic development director, said officials learned last Friday that the city’s application was not approved.

City staff members put together the application after learning the East-West Gateway Council of Governments announced a second round of funding for the Great Streets Initiative.

Labadie was one of four areas that were awarded grants in the first round of the program.

East-West Gateway directors were expected to award two to three grants under the second round.

The grants provide a maximum funding level of $300,000 per project.

The money can only be used for planning and design of improvements, not construction, with the focus on multi-modal uses including making roadways more pedestrian friendly and added signage.

The city’s application proposed improvements along Fifth Street from Highway 47 west to Stafford Street.