The Lake Today

The Lake of the Ozarks Council of Governments (LOCLG) recently applied for a federal grant to help in re-aligning Routes MM, TT and F in the Sunrise Beach area.

The $14.173 million grant LOCLG recently applied for was through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (Tiger) III program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

This popular federal grant program, according to the U.S. DOT’s website, provides a unique opportunity for the federal department to invest in road, rail, transit and port projects that promise to achieve critical national objectives. Congress dedicated $1.5 billion for TIGER I and $600 million for TIGER II. In December 2011, 46 transportation projects in 33 states and Puerto Rico received a total of $551 million from TIGER III grant funds. However, LOCLG’s was not able secure funds for its re-alignment project on Routes MM, TT and F through the TIGER III grant program.

According to LOCLG Regional Planner Mac McNally, even though LOCLG was not awarded in the recent TIGER III cycle, he is hopeful in securing funds through the TIGER IV grant program, with grant writing deadlines coming up early this summer.

“I did speak with one of the grant administrators (for the program) and he noted that there were areas in our application that were strong. We are going to discuss how we can better our grant writing (submission) and go ahead and try for those funds through Tiger IV,” he said.

McNally said LOCLG believes strongly in getting the realignment project rolling primarily due to safety issues along those stretches of roadways that link the Community Toll Bridge to the Lake’s Westside.

“There have been a significant number of accidents along these roadways,” he added. “Plus, completing this realignment project will give local residents confidence to utilize these roads and open up more traffic between the two sides of the Lake and expansion of the Lake’s labor pool. We have received feedback from retailers on the Westside that they would like to see more traffic from East side residents to their businesses. This realignment will provide some synergy and give more access to shoppers on the east side of the Lake. It will benefit the entire community.”

McNally said, after the grant writing process is complete for TIGER IV funds this summer, they should know later this year if they can secure the grant to help fund the $24.1 million realignment project.

Persons interested in economic development who would like to serve on a LOCLG committee or those wanting further information may contact LOCLG Regional Planner Mac McNally at 573-346-5692 or by email at mac.mcnally@loclg.org.