7/26/11 Historic Downtown Millersburg in the running for Tier II funding

  • By Nick Sabo
  • July 26, 2011
  • 289
                        
SUMMARRY: Accepted to second round of applications, must find 100 percent match for projects Historic Downtown Millersburg is one of seven applicants in the running to receive up to $400,000 for downtown revitalization. HDM executive director Tom Wilke said Tuesday July 26 that downtown has been selected by the Ohio Department of Development as an applicant for one of six grant awards. The ODOD has $2.3 million in Tier II funding to spend on revitalization projects to eligible communities. Wilke said the initial application was submitted to ODOD in May. That application established HDM as eligible to participate in the Tier II grant process. To secure Tier II funds, HDM must meet certain thresholds in an advanced application round. Perhaps the most difficult piece of the Tier II thresholds will be identifying enough eligible projects in downtown, Wilke said. Tier II funding can only be used for facade restoration and needed interior improvements, including bringing buildings up to code. To identify such projects, HDM must find areas where improvements are needed and the building owner is interested in making those improvements. Furthermore, the grant carries a ‘one to one match’ - that is, every dollar that the ODOD grants must be matched locally with the same amount. For example, if a $20,000 facade improvement is submitted as part of the overall projects in the grant, it must be matched with $20,000 locally. Wilke said he believes the interest is there in the business community. He noted that several storefronts along Jackson Street have new owners who are opening new businesses in the storefronts and and exploring opportunities for loft-style housing on the second and third floors. “I feel much more confident because of renewed interest in downtown,” Wilke said. “There have been four buildings in the last 18 months that have changed hands and significant investment has taken place.” Wilke said ODOD has $400,000 available for five projects and $300,000 for a third. HDM’s initial application asked for $400,000 but depending on what projects are identified, the final number may be less, Wilke said. The Tier II funding requires the grant money to affect 20 percent of the applicant’s target area. There are currently 37 structures in HDM’s designated downtown area, meaning eight would have to submit eligible requests for funds. It further asks the applicant to name a project coordinator with a background in grant administration. The Tier II application is due Oct. 4, and grant award recipients will be notified in December, Wilke said.


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