The Martinsville City Council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Municipal Building to discuss lending its support to a grant initiative that could total $1.5 million.
The Blue Ridge Innovation Corridor has asked Martinsville officials to articulate their support for a $1 million GO Virginia grant. The grant has a match requirement of $500,000, for a total funding package of $1.5 million.
GO Virginia is an initiative that seeks to bolster economic growth across the state. BRIC’s request doesn’t specify projects but states that the funds would be used for accelerating regional growth.
This includes developing sector-specific growth strategies, assessing and prioritizing infrastructure and workforce needs, creating a comprehensive strategic plan and implementation playbook, and aligning regional assets for long-term economic impact.
BRIC, which represents communities including Roanoke, Blacksburg, Danville and Martinsville, is a coalition of dozens of businesses and institutional leaders.
Supporting the grant bid would not make the city financially responsible for the match or any other related costs.
“No direct financial commitment from the City is required,” reads agenda information provided by the city. “The Grant asks for non-monetary, in-kind participation.”
The agenda does not specify what in-kind participation might entail.
Council officials will also decide whether to give a parcel of land, located at 315 W. Commonwealth Blvd., to the city’s economic development authority.
The 8-acre property is the site of the city’s National Guard Armory. The portion city officials are considering giving to the authority totals a little over 3 acres. The city doesn’t specify what the property might be used for.
The full meeting agenda can be found here.
