NORMAL -- The town is hoping to cash in on at least one of two chances to get money for the planned uptown transportation center.

City Manager Mark Peterson said officials are preparing an application for the federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant program and is working with local state legislators in hopes of getting some of the state's capital bill money.

"It's very, very competitive," Peterson said of the federal program. "They've already received hundreds of applications and they aren't due until mid-September."

The federal program has $1.5 billion, but Peterson said thousands of communities are expected to apply. The grant is limited to $300 million per state and $200 million per project. There is a minimum grant of $20 million -- the same amount Normal needs for the transportation center.

Because the TIGER grant program is part of the federal economic stimulus package, Peterson said the feds are looking for shovel-ready projects.

On Monday, the council approved a $59,750 agreement with RATIO Architects for design services for audiovisual equipment for the center and hired PB Americas Inc. at a price not to exceed $18,600 to help complete the technical aspects of the project in the application.

The TIGER application asks how the project will improve existing facilities, contribute to economic competitiveness of the United States and improve the quality of living, working environments, energy efficiency and safety.

The planned transportation center would be built on land on West Beaufort Street south of the Children's Discovery Museum. As planned, the building would meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards and would serve bus, rail and taxi transportation.

It also would house some current City Hall offices, allowing departments now in annex buildings to move into City Hall. The City Council chambers also would move to the transportation building.

Peterson said the federal grants will be announced in January.