There was an online meeting Monday (5/11) concerning a BUILD Grant application for the Oskaloosa area.  The City of Oskaloosa, Mahaska County and Mahaska Chamber and Development Group want to study building a bypass that would connect US Highway 63 and State Highway 23.  Ryan Davis, a civil engineer with McClure Engineering of Des Moines, explains what a BUILD Grant is.

“It’s a funding mechanism that the Federal Highway Administration uses.  It stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development.  It’s a very discretionary program used all over the US.”

The city, county and chamber are looking for ways to get larger truck traffic away from Oskaloosa’s residential areas.  The grant application must be turned in by next Monday (5/18); the grants will be awarded in September.