How Roswell Residents Have Saved $26 Million in Tax Dollars

The city of Roswell is one of few cities that employs a Grants Manager.  Grants Managers find matches for the city that make good public policy by sifting through thousands of government grant programs.  The city of Roswell hired Danny Blitch in 2000 to become its first Grants Manager.  As a result, the city has procured $26 million in government grant money from various public and private sources.

In many cases the grants require that the cities match funds, however in most cases only 20 percent of the total is required.  Sometimes it is a 50-50 match, but regardless, the grants all go towards projects the city would spend money on any way.  By receiving the grants the city doesn’t need to put up as much money.  The end result is a savings to taxpayers.

The way Blitch describes it, he works with experts in the various city departments to see what their needs are. Then they develop proposals to send to state and federal agencies to suggest partnerships with the city.

“It is something of an art. You have to understand these grant programs are looking for projects that are innovative and creative. So to get the grant, that is what you have to be. Usually grants are for the types of things that are outside the usual modus operendi,” Blitch said.

Perhaps the most notable grants is the $6.5 million grant for Big Creek Park’s storm water demonstration project.

The idea there is to not only use the wetlands in the park to cleanse storm water runoff, but to build boardwalks through the wetlands and provide education and awareness about the environmental consequences of such runoff.

Some of Roswell’s grants include:  $10,000 to renovate Roswell’s Fire Station No. 2, Roswell Recycling Center, new sections of Riverwalk Park trails and mill restoration on Vickery Creek, mobile fire safety truck for student education, police Kevlar vests and thermal imaging cameras.

Grant Mangers are a relatively new concept, but it is a growing profession.  The American Association of Grant Professionals is a 1,700 member professional society and Roswell’s Grant Manager Danny Blitch is President.

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Roswell History Walk

November 15, 2008
9:30 am	to	11:00 am

The Roswell Historical Society will host a Walk With History on Saturday, Nov. 15 that will transport you back in time to July 1864.

Characters in period costumes will escort participants to various sites within walking distance of the Roswell historic town square. Learn what happened to Roswell Mill workers during that Civil War period. Meet Roswell’s historic residents and Civil War era visitors.

The walk begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Roswell historical town square. The cost is $5 per person.

Be sure to wear walking shoes. The history walk is ideal for school-aged children and adults.

For reservations and other information, contact the Roswell Historical Society at 770-992-1665.

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