The Town of Argos recently received an Office of Community and Rural Affairs grant in the amount of $1.1 million for the proposed downtown square project at the corner of Michigan and Walnut Streets. The town’s match will be $220,000.
During a public hearing on the project at the end of the year, Shannon McLeod, a grant writer from Priority Project Resources, explained that the project is a part of the Marshall County Crossroads Stellar Communities Initiative Regional Development Plan. Grant funds were set aside for the project, but the town officially had to go through the grant application process in order to formally receive the grant.
Grant funds will be used for clearing the site to make way for the installation of a new train depot with restrooms, benches, an elevated performance stage, landscaping (click here), lighting, signage, and an arch. McLeod noted that there will be an indoor historic display of the old train depot inside of the new, more modern-looking structure once it is constructed.
The Argos Town Council members approved a contract with Shannon McLeod to be the grant administrator for the project. The project is expected to start this fall with completion in April 2022.
Despite what council members have heard from residents about the lack of parking in the area, they said during Wednesday night’s meeting that more parking will be available in that area when the project is done.
