Gamaliel, Kentucky, faced a problem common to many small, rural cities – their city hall facilities were outdated and dangerous. Further, with an ever-aging population, the public increasingly faced accessibility obstacles when trying to access the building. Mayor Bob Greer explained, “Many of the residents of Monroe County and the City of Gamaliel will not mail their city payments they have to bring them in personally. It was dangerous for them to be walking in on the ramp, and it was a good climb on the steps.” Knowing this, the Mayor applied for accessibility funding through HUD and Kentucky’s Community Development Block Grant Program to redo the outside steps, install a new outside handicap ramp, and improve the bathrooms inside. According to Mayor Greer, “[these funds] have helped immensely. It has improved City Hall from the inside and out.”

Mayor Greer found that the process, while much needed, was not quick. “Getting the contractor started was the greatest challenge,” state Greer. As with many grant projects, there were numerous steps and regulations to work through before construction could begin including an environmental review process and the formal procurement of both the architect and the contractor. Even so, Mayor Greer says the project was well worth the effort. Updating the old ramp, steps and the bathrooms in Gamaliel has not only improved the accessibility of city hall, but also the aesthetics of the building.

If your community is interested in applying for Community Development Block Grant funds, contact the Community and Economic Development Department of the Barren River Area Development District at 270-781-2381, or email planning@bradd.org. 

You can also read more about the CDBG program using the Related Resources links below.