The Grant County Redevelopment Commission approved a notice of request for proposals for the Dana site and authorized staff to advertise and distribute the notice to potential developers.

Commission staff said the RFP is a standard template the county’s counsel has used previously for property repurposing. The document requires respondents to present a plan to address brownfield concerns, outline neighborhood factors, state their proposed business type, describe experience, provide timelines, say whether they will use local contractors, and indicate whether they will create or retain jobs and the proposed wages. Staff also included a requirement that a selected respondent agree to pay property taxes for at least five years or forfeit the property back to the commission if they default on that obligation.

Bookout said the county has pulled a tax‑sale certificate on at least one parcel and that county attorney Harker and counsel Chris Bridal are finalizing a written description of the process the county will use to perfect title and transfer property after a selection. Staff said those title/perfection steps will be completed before closing and transfer; closing after a selected contract award was estimated at about four to six months post award.

The RFP timeline presented to the commission set an issuance date of Oct. 10, written questions due Nov. 24, and proposals due Dec. 1, with closing and transfer estimated four to six months after contract award. Bookout said there are two parcels included in the notice: a larger parcel and a smaller parcel to the south.

Commissioner Ridley moved to approve the notice; a second was recorded and the chair called a voice vote. The motion carried.

Staff said they will advertise the notice twice in a local publication, distribute the RFP to known developers and interested parties (including the City of Marion and the local growth council), and seek input on additional recipients for distribution prior to publication.