The Montgomery County Commissioners recently announced that seven projects in the county will receive Montco 2040 Implementation Grants.

The grants are part of an exciting new program aimed at implementing the new county comprehensive plan, Montco 2040: A Shared Vision. The program is intended to assist municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the plan and the plan’s themes of Connected Communities, Sustainable Places, and Vibrant Economy.

This is the first round of funding for the 2016 program cycle. These grant awards will account for $706,440 out of the available $1 million program balance. The county received 15 applications from municipalities totaling more than $1.6 million in requests during the first round.

Applicants that did not receive an award at this time will still be considered during the next round of funding. A committee made up of Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC) Board Members and interdepartmental county staff will meet again next month to recommend additional grant awards with the remaining 2016 program balance.

The seven projects that received grants are:

• Abington Township will install a bump-out curb extension for one of its most prominent intersections at Old York Road and The Fairway. The award is $100,000.
• Collegeville Borough will install a new traffic signal at the corner of Main and Sixth Streets. The award is $75,000.
• Douglass Township will retrofit an existing municipal parking lot adjacent to the township building and Douglass Park to make the lot greener and sustainable. The award is $150,000.
• Hatfield Township will build additional segments onto their existing trail system to connect township recreational facilities, a business park, residential areas, and the county’s Liberty Bell Trail in Hatfield Borough. The award is $100,000.
• Lower Moreland Township will construct a sidewalk along the south side of Welsh Road between Lieberman Drive and Valley Road. The award is $91,000.
• Upper Moreland Township will construct a new pedestrian crossing at York and Davisville Roads in the Willow Grove Redevelopment Area. The award is $95,065.
• Upper Salford Township will acquire a conservation and trail easement over the Shirk-Hutt woods area of the Hutt Farm. The award is $95,375.