CRANBERRY TWP — The $30,000 the county will pay a consultant to create a public funding strategy for the Butler Corridor Project will be more than covered by a grant from the county's Industrial Development Authority.

The seven-person authority Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a grant not to exceed $50,000 to help fund the project, which the county hopes will ultimately secure federal infrastructure dollars to improve several highways around the county.

County commissioners in March hired Delta Development Group of Mechanicsburg at a cost of $7,500 for four months to develop a funding strategy to improve Route 228 East and West, Route 356 in Southeastern Butler County, Route 38 in Washington Township, Route 68 in Connoquenessing Township and other corridors.

The end game, said Mark Gordon, the county's chief of economic development and planning, is to use Delta's plan to access a portion of the $1.4 trillion to $1.7 trillion in infrastructure funding announced in January by President Donald Trump.

The Industrial Development Authority will extend a grant of $50,000 unless the Butler County General Authority wants to participate in the grant, in which case each authority pays $25,000.

Douglas Linn, the authority's solicitor, said if the authority's goal is to promote and increase employment and bring commerce into the county, then the money is well spent. He said the county's plan to improve transportation infrastructure will bring commerce into the county.

Commissioner Chairman Leslie Osche said Wednesday she is glad the IDA is placing its trust in the plan.

“We're grateful that they've chosen to come on board and help us with transportation planning,” Osche said.

She said the plan will benefit residents and businesses across the county by increasing economic development.

Once Delta completes the plan, which Osche said could take longer than four months, the county will follow the steps in the plan toward securing the federal infrastructure dollars.

Grants like that of the authority will give the plan funds to be leveraged in Harrisburg and finally in Washington, D.C.

“You're going to see this roll out in steps,” Osche said.