Rutherford County to accept $800,000 DOT grant for student transit to community colleges

Rutherford County commissioners authorized county staff to finalize and accept a roughly $800,000 grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to fund student transportation to Isothermal Community College campuses, Carrie Giles, the county’s transit director, told the board.

"We were awarded an $800,000 grant with us and Polk County Transit working together along with Isothermal Community College to get students to either campus," Giles said, adding the award is a two‑year grant intended primarily for mileage and student transportation costs and that the Department of Transportation is issuing agreements to make the grant effective July 1.

Giles asked the board to allow the interim county manager to work with the county attorney and finance officer to approve the grant agreement when it is received and to negotiate an interlocal agreement with Polk County; commissioners approved that authorization by motion and voice vote and designated Rutherford County as the fiscal agent for the grant.

Giles said the grant was intended to reduce barriers for workforce and training enrollment and to expedite fall enrollment at the colleges by providing transportation and short‑term passes that help students access campus training programs.

The board’s authorization allows county staff to sign grant paperwork and interlocal terms consistent with grant provisions; no specific interlocal financial terms were provided in the meeting packet.