To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Approval to accept the Fenton Road Trail Phase One Construction Grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
The Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) is recommending the Board of Commissioners accept the Fenton Road Trail - phase one construction grant, approve the attached budget adjustment, and authority to establish and enter a subrecipient grant agreement.
BACKGROUND:
The planning, engineering and capital fundraising have been underway for several years with multiple non-motorized trail projects throughout Genesee County on track for construction. Traditionally, projects of significant scale require federal funding to be leveraged. These federally funded trail projects are awarded 4 to 6 years prior to the year they will be constructed to reserve funding. In advance of the Flint and Genesee County Trails Symposium (June 2025), Planning Commission staff with support of Genesee County municipalities identified four non-motorized trail projects with a combination of secured funding totaling over $8.9 million. At the time, these were the only “shovel-ready” trail projects scheduled to begin their construction phase in the next 12 months. A combined financial commitment of $1,030,000 was initially awarded by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to Genesee County on behalf of the four projects to complete their fundraising. Following the Trails Symposium, Planning Commission staff announced a call for projects to all municipalities in Genesee County seeking non-motorized trail projects planned for the next 18 months in need of financial support. Municipalities were requested to identify shovel-ready projects that could move forward with immediate financial investment, especially those that have undergone early preliminary engineering with available cost estimates. Approximately a dozen projects were submitted to the County with only one project, Fenton Road Trail - phase one, having completed preliminary design and proof of matching funds. Currently the project has secured over $2.2 million in federal funding through Genesee County’s Transportation Improvement Program.
DISCUSSION:
Earlier this Fall, Genesee County staff applied to the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the amount of $730,000 to be used for the construction of the Fenton Road - phase one non-motorized trail project. Genesee County is proposing to provide a direct, reimbursable grant commitment to Fenton Township for the construction of the Fenton Road Trail - Phase One project. The County may also work directly with the Road Commission, recipient of the federal grant funds if preferred. A subrecipient grant agreement will be executed once all required documents are received by Genesee County. All funds must be expended and supporting documentation by April 30, 2027.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There will be no impact on human resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
This will increase transportation revenues and expenditure by $730,000.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There will be no impact on Genesee County facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Helping to meet Genesee County’s priority of healthy, livable, and safe communities, this grant will increase the pace at which local municipalities build meaningful non-motorized connections to schools, parks, and core community services.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of Planning to authorize accepting the Fenton Road Trail Phase One Construction Grant from, and entering into a grant agreement with, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation in the amount of $730,000, and to approve a budget adjustment along with this request, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the January 21, 2026 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of this Board), the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the agreement on behalf of Genesee County, and the Chief Financial Officer is directed to record the attached budget amendment.