BENTON, Mo. -- Some Scott County towns and schools are taking advantage of the opportunity to secure grant funding to improve transportation options for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Sikeston Standard Democrat reported that during Thursday's Scott County Commission meeting, county developer Joel Evans informed commissioners he attended a Transportation Enhancement Funds Workshop hosted by the Missouri Department of Transportation on Wednesday. The local MoDOT district has about $2.8 million to award to local public agencies for projects to construct sidewalks, trails and bike lanes and to make ADA improvements to existing sidewalks, according to Evans.

"It was a very positive workshop," he said. "The Department is required by federal statute to spend a certain amount on pedestrian and bicycle improvements."

Projects discussed for Scott County include sidewalks in Blodgett, expected to cost under $200,000; sidewalk improvements and historic lighting in Benton, estimated at about $350,000; and sidewalks for the Kelly and Scott County Central school districts.

Evans noted that school districts must be sponsored by the jurisdiction in which they lie -- in this case, Scott County -- but there are no limitations for how many districts the county can sponsor.

Agencies which receive the funds are eligible for 80 percent reimbursement, with the local agency providing a 20 percent match.

Projects must be submitted in the next six weeks, said Evans. "They will be awarded by mid-November," he added. Those projects also must be able to begin construction on or before May 2012.

For more information on the funds, go to www.modot.org/southeast.