For communities looking to secure critical infrastructure funding, the path from idea to execution often hinges on writing a successful grant application. At Timmons Group, we understand the high stakes—and the high rewards—of the process. We’re excited to introduce formal grant writing services for our clients, expanding on more than three decades of experience in helping our local government partners unlock funding opportunities and bring transformative projects to life.
From local road safety initiatives to regional infrastructure strategies, our grant support services are designed to guide clients through every phase of the grant life cycle, including identifying opportunities that match planning goals, crafting compelling narratives, preparing technical approaches, creating exhibits and cost estimates, managing grant requirements, and working through the application process.
At the heart of this service offering is Bekah Kendrick, a seasoned grant writer with a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of how funding aligns with project outcomes. Bekah works closely with our engineering and planning teams to ensure grant narratives are not only persuasive, but technically sound and strategically positioned for success.
Bekah brings two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, and strategic partnership development to her role where she leads the development of competitive proposals to secure funding for Timmons Group’s clients across the country. With a strong background in nonprofit leadership and fundraising, Bekah brings a strategic lens to grant pursuits, helping to align public and private funding to advance.
“This role presents a unique opportunity to fund projects that will impact our communities for years to come”, Bekah says. “I’m thrilled to help clients access the grant funding they need to bring bold ideas to life.”
Timmons Group’s grant writing services help clients navigate and compete for funding across local, state, and federal programs. At Timmons Group, Bekah supports grant development efforts that span transportation, water and resilient infrastructure, geospatial technology, and economic development, advancing transformative outcomes for communities and clients alike.
“Our goal is to remove uncertainty from the grant process,” says Kendrick. “We want clients to feel confident that their ideas are heard, their approach is strong, and their proposals are positioned for funding success.”
Bekah Kendrick serves as Timmons Group’s grant writer and liaison for technical teams and clients looking to pursue grant funding.
Two transportation planning successes underscore the impact of this integrated approach. Both Chesterfield County and Roanoke County were awarded funding through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program thanks to technical work, data analysis, and community engagement efforts led by Timmons Group’s transportation planning and engineering teams.
Chesterfield County — SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan & Supplemental Road Safety Audits
In 2022 and again in 2024, Timmons Group assisted Chesterfield County with the crafting of application materials to submit for the SS4A grant program. The funding awarded in 2022 allowed Timmons Group to work with the County to create a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan focused on eliminating roadway fatalities and serious injuries. Timmons Group supported the County with crash data analysis and created a High-Injury Network to prioritize areas of greatest need. The success of the Action Plan allowed Chesterfield County to pursue supplemental funding through the SS4A program in 2024 to complete road safety audits at top locations around the County. With Timmons Group assistance, the County was successful in receiving over $600,000 in federal funding to pursue safety planning.
The Timmons Group team led a safety summit that brought together multiple departments at the County, including Transportation, Public Safety, Fire/EMS, Police, Risk Management, Planning, Communications, Schools, Social Services, and Community Development and local stakeholders including VDOT, GRTC, Richmond Regional TPO, Tri-Cities MPO, PlanRVA, Drive Smart, and Sports Backers. The wide range of involvement allowed multiple viewpoints to consider recommended improvements and balance infrastructure ideas with policy ideas. Through meetings and interactive tools, Timmons Group helped shape location-specific and systemic recommendations.
Roanoke County, Botetourt County, & The Town of Vinton — SS4A Comprehensive Safety Action Plan
In 2022, Roanoke County, Botetourt County, and the Town of Vinton teamed together to pursue SS4A grant funding to develop Action Plans for each locality. Timmons Group provided technical assistance with the grant application. After the award, Timmons Group delivered engineering analysis and stakeholder engagement. Using GIS-based crash data analysis, the team identified each locality’s top highest-risk corridors and intersections and combined this with public input to inform an actionable roadmap for improving roadway safety.
Engagement efforts ranged from public meetings and stakeholder interviews to interactive dashboards and StoryMaps that helped visualize the findings. The Action Plans were shaped in collaboration with local police, emergency responders, VDOT, public schools, and other key partners. Timmons Group provided additional application assistance to each locality for bringing the top recommended projects forward for the next rounds of SS4A grant funding and other VDOT opportunities.
These projects exemplify the collaborative approach Timmons Group brings to every engagement, combining in-depth technical knowledge, a client and community mindset, and now, dedicated grant writing services. The team’s services include:
- Needs assessment
- Grant prospecting & research
- Notification of upcoming deadlines
- Funder relationship development
- Compelling grant narratives
- Maps, visuals, and specifications
- Cost estimation
- Accurate budgets & timelines
- Third-party review
- Reporting documentation
Whether you’re pursuing a specific funding source or exploring new state, federal, or philanthropic opportunities, our team is here to guide you through every step of the process.
Let’s bring your vision to life with the funding to back it up. Reach out to Bekah Kendrick at bekah.kendrick@timmons.com to get started.
