The city hired a grant writer, approving a one-year, $25,000 contract earlier this year.

City Council approved AR-54-15, awarding a contract for grant writing services to The Aubrey Group, LLC, in Plainfield, during its Feb. 9 regualr meeting.

City Administrator Cherron Rountree said the city has always had a grant writer in some form. The grant writer will focus on federal and private foundation grants, and will focus on all areas, not just redevelopment, such as county grants and Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

UPDATED, 4/29/15: Last year, City Council awarded a $25,000 contract ( AR-5-14) for grant writing services at its annual reorganization meeting to Lawrence McCullough, who has served as executive director of the Union County Performing Arts Center since November 2013.