WEATHERSFIELD — Trustees continue to seek additional funding for the township’s planned multi-jurisdictional community center at the park off state Route 46.

The trustees voted unanimously to authorize Township Administrator David Rouan to apply for a community project funding appropriation through the office of U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Bainbridge, for a Rural Development Community Facilities grant in the amount of $447,000.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s website, the program “provides affordable funding to develop essential community facilities in rural areas.”

“It’s an appropriation that they do annually for local projects,” Rouan said. “Our project qualifies for that program.”

Rouan said this is the third time the township has applied for this specific appropriation.

Last month, trustees authosrized Rouan to apply for funding through a similar program through the office of U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Cleveland.

Trustee Ed Whittaker said the township is renewing the application in hopes of securing additional funding for the center, which has received $800,000 in grant funding so far. A large portion — $500,000 — is through an appropriation from the 2020-21 Ohio Capital Budget and $300,000 is from the Appalachian Regional Commission.

In December, trustee chairman Steve Gerberry said the most recent project bids were $1.4 million or more. Rouan said there are no additional programs for which the township can reapply for funding.

“We’ve secured state capital funding and the Appalachian Regional Commission funding and we’re not eligible to go back to either of those two sources,” Rouan said. “We’ve also applied for the Trumbull County commissioners through the (American Rescue Plan) and we’re hopeful that either the congressional-directed spending, the community project funding or the ARP will come through to get us over the goal line.”

Planned is a 91-foot-by-70-foot, one-story, 6,300-square-foot center with large and small meeting rooms and a warming kitchen to be used by safety forces and other groups.

The center would be located west of the township gazebo.

In past years, trustees have said the police department and other law enforcement personnel, as well as groups such as the historical societies, 4-H and Scouts, could use the building.

They said the center will be a welcome addition to the park, which is used for a variety of events such as the Flag Day Festival, fall Oktoberfest, Easter egg hunt, holiday tree lighting and local youth sports, among others.

If awarded the $447,000, Rouan said it would go toward some of the site work, paving the parking lot, lighting and landscaping.

Have an interesting story? Contact Mason Cole by email at mcole@tribtoday.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @masoncoletrib.