POLAND – The Town of Poland is searching for a freelance grant writer.

The search comes as a response to a long-time sinkhole which has been destroying a portion of Quaint Road. This is occurring as the sinkhole is directly underneath the road causing sinkage over time. The town has made numerous attempts to temporarily manage the sinkhole by filling in any low points, but that solution is not sustainable for the town in the long-term. The sinkhole has been a problem for many years now and needs a more long-standing solution, according to Kelly Snow, town supervisor.

The town has proposed the use of a state Community Development Block Grant as the best solution to the problem. CDBG grants are provided to aid small towns, villages and cities with populations of fewer than 50,000 people as a means to help assist the community, whether on an individual basis or providing funding to assist an entire area. Snow said the grants can be especially useful in a situation that is posing imminent threat to a small community, a designation town officials think is appropriate for the sinkhole they are dealing with.

If the town is able to receive a CDBG grant it would fully cover more than 75% of funding for the project, which is expected to cost at least $26,000 in materials alone. The total cost of the project could easily reach more than $100,000, especially after the cost of labor and trucks, Snow said. The grant is crucial if the town wants to fix the sinkhole at its root.

A grant writer for the Town of Poland could be beneficial in more instances than just this however. The town had, many years ago, claimed to have developed a community action plan to redo the downtown portion of Poland. With a grant writer it would open the door to further work, Snow said.

An individual has entered consideration for the position and will be reviewed further at next month’s meeting within the town. For any other questions regarding the repairs or position opening email Snow, Poland supervisor, at supervisor@townofpolandny.gov.