Bullard officials are trying to meet a deadline to receive a state grant for a project that will hook 40 homes to Bullard's sewer system and could pave the way for future development.

Homes and most businesses on the east side of State Highway 69 run on cisterns. But a new $250,000 grant from the Office of Rural Community Affairs (ORCA) will help low to middle income residents hook up to the main sewer system.

"The bidding is delayed to get some of the easement acquisitions taken care of," City Engineer Brian Capps said.

In June of 2007 Bullard was awarded the grant from ORCA, and the city has a finite deadline of June 2009 to finish

the project. But so far no construction has started as the +

city is trying to gain easements from the school district and property owners. Once this is completed, construction will start.

The design of the project is complete and the city is "We will be working right up to the deadline," Capps said.

The city must receive easements from the school board and one final property owner who is reviewing a contract, Capps said.

The city is matching the funds with a $300,000 loan, which will be paid for by the Bullard Economic Development Corporation. The corporation will pay for it through a half cent sales tax., City Manager Larry Morgan said.

"It's really a win-win situation for Bullard," he said, citing possible commercial development and the first time expense of setting the infrastructure for sewer.

The pipe for the sewer will be placed on State Highway 69 from Highway 344 to Main Street and will be placed in Rolling Wood Hills east of State Highway 69 on 344.

The future growth from the project is expected to be exceptional, Morgan said. The city can expect growth from businesses that will be able to hook up to the sewer system along Highway 69.

Plus the city is setting the infrastructure to expand the sewer system in the future.

"Sometimes everything lines up and you are able to really hit a homerun with these grants," said Gary Traylor, with the company responsible for assisting the city with the grant process.

Traylor said the city will benefit from increased property value, more sales taxes and more utility revenue. The project will also connect 134 people to the sewer system, which will all be first-time users. More than 100 of the users are categorized as low or moderate income.