Discussion and direction to staff regarding a request from the Trust for Public Lands for the City to participate in a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for RAISE Funds for Seminole Gulf Railway property acquisition for the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT) project.
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The Trust for Public Lands (TPL) is proposing to partner with the City and the Village of Estero to submit a grant application to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant. RAISE has set a maximum grant award at $25 million with a due date to submit application no later than January 30, 2025.
The Trust for Public Lands wishes to utilize the services of a consultant to prepare the application. Currently, the Village of Estero and Friends of BERT have each committed $5,000.00 towards the consulting fees. The Trust for Public Lands is requesting the City provide a $5,000.00 contribution towards the consulting fee.
The Trust for Public Lands would like the applicants (City of Bonita Springs and Village of Estero) to apply for the maximum permitted request of $25 million which will require a non-federal match. They have requested a pledge of 5.0 million matching funds from the City. City staff is seeking direction from Council regarding the requests to participate as a co-applicant, providing the $5,000.00 contribution towards consulting fees and committing $5 million in match funds for the RAISE grant application.