Town awarded Climate Smart Communities grant; board to designate coordinator and confirm contractor minority commitments

The board received notice that Shenango was selected for a Climate Smart Communities grant. Staff said the state sent a bundle of contracting materials and next-step items, and that the town has up to five years to expend the award.

"They sent us their package… you've got awarded," one staff member said, summarizing the state email and attachments. The board discussed practical questions: who will manage the grant team, how many hours of town effort are required, and what minority-participation commitments the contractor will honor. Members asked staff to compile the grant documents and a short summary to present at the next meeting, and suggested inviting an experienced outside advisor to describe typical municipal obligations under the program.

Staff will forward the state's email and attachments to the board, identify a point of contact, and include a recommended implementation team and hours estimate for the July meeting so the board can decide whether to accept the grant agreement and sign the contract.

Next step: staff to prepare a one-page summary of grant terms, required town responsibilities, and recommended CSC team members for board review.