ROANOKE, Va.- – Vinton wants to continue the momentum of redeveloping the town of 8,100. Town leaders are working to submit a federal grant proposal to help and to live up their motto of Eat, Shop, Play, and Live.
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They're planning to submit an application for the EPA Community Brownfield Assessment Program.Â
"We're going to try to identify as part of the application process eight to 12 sites within the community that have a characteristic of being blighted or under-utilized," said Pete Peters, assistant town manager
Assistant town manager Pete Peters said the community will help to identify sites in the 3 square miles around town. If the grant, worth $300,000 is approved, the money will fix any environmental problems a location may have to help it become developed in the future.
"So by doing this it kind of rules out any of those concerns and takes the burden off the developer," said Peters.Â
Peters said past and current projects such the construction of the old William Byrd High School into apartments prevented them from solely focusing on this Brownfield grant.
"So it's been a target and on the idea list of programs and tools that we can create to really help and encourage development of the town," said Peters.Â
Vinton Leaders are encouraging the community to get involved in the process by letting the town staff know which sites they would like to see redevelop.
If their grant application is approved after they submit it in mid-November, work to redevelop the designated sites will start next October.