The City of Seminole will soon launch a nearly $500,000 infrastructure update project that will be funded in part by grant money.

Last Tuesday, the Seminole Utilities Authority approved a bid of $490,828 from Leetech Solutions, LLC for replacement of sewer lines and manholes in the Van Drive/Ideal Street area. The city was previously awarded a grant that will cover half of the costs and the balance will be funded from Series 2004 (2012AB) bond proceeds.

Before the bid was approved Tuesday, authority member Larry Church asked City Manager Steve Saxon if this was the final phase of the project.

“Yes sir,” Saxon answered. “We’re really happy to be at this point. The CDBG grant is finished, and we have to release the funds for that. We’re ready to begin construction real soon,” Saxon added.

The bid was approved unanimously by the authority, which is comprised of city council members.

Leetech submitted the lowest bid for the project. According to the company’s website, Leetech is based in Aledo, Texas and has 25 years of experience with pipe bursting, water and sewer, open cut and municipal utility construction.

The CDBG program is one of the longest-running programs of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The grants fund local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs and infrastructure development. CDBG programs are subject to less federal oversight and are largely used at the discretion of the state and local governments and their sub-grantees.