Planned Loveland Parking Garage takes a funding hit

$3.14 million Federal funding grant not approved

By Chuck Gibson 

LOVELAND, OH (June 16, 2022) – The City of Loveland announced in a press release issued Wednesday, the Federal EDA Grant application earmarked for the Parking Facility Project was not approved. 

According to the press release from the City of Lovelany, they were notified Tuesday, June 14, by the Economic Development Administration the application for funding was not approved.

The funding grant application was specifically made to help offset the projected $6.29 million cost of the planned parking facility project. The project and application received support from several state and federal legislators. Parking in Loveland remains a hot topic today. Most seem to agree more parking is needed, but not everyone agrees the parking garage plan is the solution.

Here is the text from the City of Loveland Press Release issued Wednesday, June 15, 2022: 

On June 14, 2022, the City of Loveland was notified by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), that its application for funding through the FY 2021 American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act Economic Adjustment Assistance program was not approved for funding. 

The city submitted a funding request in the fall of 2021 for $3,146,143 to be utilized for the Downtown Parking Facility project.  The application, which was submitted to the Chicago Regional Office of the EDA, included grant funding of $1,150,000 in state and federal funding already secured by the city towards the $6,292,627 total project cost. 

In the funding notification, it was noted that “Of the $3 billion the ARP Act appropriated for EDA, the Chicago Regional Office’s regional allocation for its 6 states was $82.7 million for competitive Economic Adjustment Assistance projects. The Chicago Regional Office has received a high volume of applications for these extremely competitive programs.”

Mayor, Kathy Bailey would like to “thank the state and federal legislators who offered their support of the project and the city’s application.”  City Manager, David Kennedy, saluted the many members of city staff who worked on the grant application, as it truly was a group effort.  Kennedy added that he will work with City Council and the Finance Commission to determine how best to proceed with the project.

While no one has said anything more than City Manager David Kennedy’s statement: “(He) will work with City Council and the Finance Commission to determine how best to proceed with the project.”, it is expected Mayor Kathy Bailey and members of Loveland City Council will  meet sooner than later to discuss their next steps.

For more about the City of Loveland, visit online at:  http://lovelandoh.gov/