HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-09 14-037 ORDERCOUNCIL ACTION
Item No. 14-037
Date: December 9, 2013
Item/Subject ORDER, Authorizing Grant Application to National Endowment for the
Arts -Our Town Program
Responsible Department: Community & Economic Development
Commentary: This Order will authorize the City Manager to submit a grant application in the amount
of $200,000 to the National Endowment for the Arts, Our Town Program. If successful, the funds will be
used to plan for, and help offset costs associated with, infrastructure and aesthetic upgrades to Pickering
Square. As a part of this application, the City will commit up to $300,000 in matching funds from the
Downtown TIF for the Pickering Square renovations. These Downtown TIF funds are already dedicated
to the redesign of the area and the five-year Capital Improvement Program for the Downtown TIF
includes $420,000 and $700,000 for Pickering Square in 2015 and 2016 respectfully. Furthermore, we
will utilize staff time as well as our partner's time towards the required match. If successful, the work on
the grant would take place between September of 2014 and August, of 2016.
Department Head
Manager's Comments: This item is to be reviewed in pre -council on December 9, 2013.
City Manager
Associated Information:
Budget Approval:
k",
Finance Director
Legal Approval:
City Solicitor
Introduced for
X Passage
First Reading Page _ of _
Referral
14-037
NOVEMBER 9, 2013
Assigned to Councilor Plourde
CITY OF BANGOR
(TITLE.) ORDER, Authorizing Grant Application to National Endowment for the
Arts -Our Town Program
WHEREAS, the National Endowment for the Arts is currently accepting grant proposals of up
to $200,000 for their Our Town Grant Program; and
WHEREAS, an application to the program for the planning and redesign of the Pickering
Square area would be competitive; and
WHEREAS, the City is willing to commit up to $300,000 from the Downtown TIF funds that
are already dedicated to the redesign of the area:
BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR THAT
The City Manager is authorized to submit an application to the National Endownment for the
Arts Our Town Program and commit up to $300,000 from the Downtown TIF towards the
planning and redesign of Pickering Square.
IN CITY COUNCIL
December 9, 2013
Motion made and seconded for Passage
CITY CLERK
MEMORANDUM
14-037
DECEMBER 9, 2013
TO: City Council
FROM: Jason Bird, Business Development Officer
DATE: December4, 2013
Application for Our Town Grant Funds for Pickering Square
The National Endowment for the Arts is currently accepting grant proposals for their Our Town
grant program. Projects are funded up to $200,000, with a required 1:1 match. The match can
be a combination of cash and in-kind funds. The goal of the Our Town grant is to promote
livability in American communities by strengthening the arts.
We are partnering with the American Folk Festival and other arts organizations and leaders to
write a grant request for Our Town funds to support the upcoming work in Pickering Square.
With the decision on whether or not the Community Connector hub will remain in Pickering
Square, the City should begin thinking about the process for that area's redesign. The Our
Town grant program is coming at a great time. The City can use some of the funds to pay for
that planning work and also use the funding to cover some of the costs of the redesign.
The deadline for grant submission is January 13, 2014 and a notification is expected in July of
2014. If successful, the work on the grant would take place between September of 2014 and
August of 2016, which matches up nicely with our likely project timeline.
As a part of the required match component, the Community and Economic Development
Department is proposing the commitment of up to $300,000 in Downtown TIF funds that are
already dedicated to the redesign of the area. The 2014-2018 Capital Improvement Program
for the Downtown TIF has allocated $420,000 and $700,000 for Pickering Square in 2015 and
2016 respectfully. Furthermore, we will utilize staff time as well as our partner's time towards
the required match.
By utilizing and leveraging funds such as the Our Town grant program, we stand a better chance
of getting exactly what we want in the redesign, without having to sacrifice.too much because
of costs.
The Community and Economic Development Department supports this application.