Brownfields and grant applications were among the items discussed at the Barren River Area Development District meeting Monday.

But it was the most fleeting mention of gasoline prices that drew the most attention.

“You can get gas for $3.51 at Flying J at Exit 2,” Simpson County Judge-Executive Jim Henderson announced. “So you might want to drive down there and get your gas.”

While prices have dropped in Bowling Green, the figure was 30 cents less than the cheapest gasoline here Monday.

The price is pulling travelers off Interstate 65 and others are just traveling there for the gasoline.

In other matters, leaders from around the region heard about an upcoming workshop Aug. 19 where they could learn about grant money available to help them cleanup abandoned properties with real or perceived contamination.

Amanda Lefevre, outreach coordinator for the state’s Brownfields program, said the state over the past two years has received $3.4 million for projects. Owensboro recently received $600,000 for three projects, Lefevre said.

“Whether you are a big county or a small city, you are eligible for the program,” Lefevre said, noting that nearly every community likely has eligible sites for the funding.

Nationally, $84 million will be available through the competitive grant process. Grant applications are due in October. The grant writing workshop here will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 19 at the BRADD office, 177 Graham Ave.

The BRADD approved several grant applications in its role as a clearinghouse for grants. They included an application from Scottsville for $350,000 in state funds to replace an undersized emergency generator for use in power outages and one for $1.4 million in federal funding from the Green River Regional Educational Cooperative. The project is for five rural, low-income preschool centers.

The Housing Authority of Bowling Green is submitting an application for $3.9 million in federal funds to build 26 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors at Fort Webb. Fort Webb is behind the housing authority and is accessed from Beech Bend Road near the Bowling Green Country Club.

The apartments would be constructed on three acres of a 45-acre site, which originally was planned for 100 single-family homes.

An organization in Allen County also is seeking funding to construct a building - The Lodge at Briarwood - to house elderly people at the intersection of Anderson Boulevard and Powell Drive. The dollar figure for that project wasn’t available.

Board members were informed of some dates to remember: