Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Downtown Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Winooski council hears $50,000 request to stabilize Downtown Winooski; no vote taken
Summary
At a special March 31 meeting, Downtown Winooski described an operating shortfall and asked the city for a $50,000 infusion to preserve paid staff and programming during Main Street reconstruction. Councilors asked questions and deferred a decision to a follow-up meeting.
Winooski City Councilors discussed a one-time $50,000 funding request from Downtown Winooski at a special meeting on March 31; councilors did not take a vote and scheduled further consideration at a follow-up meeting.
The request, presented by Downtown Winooski leaders, is intended to stabilize the nonprofit’s operating budget so it can keep two paid staff members and continue business-support programming during a multi-year Main Street reconstruction. Laura Wade, chair of Downtown Winooski, told councilors the organization "restored our nonprofit status" after earlier tax problems but that "our current financial plan is not sustainable."
Why it matters: Downtown Winooski runs events, provides marketing and business liaison services and supports small businesses during a projected six-year Main Street construction period. Staff and board leaders told councilors that losing paid staff would sharply reduce the group’s capacity to run events, apply for grants and coordinate construction-related business supports.
Downtown Winooski leaders said the group has been operating on fragile, month-to-month cash flow and that two major sponsorships recently withdrew, leaving the organization's bank account nearly empty. Executive Director Melissa Corbin said, "I'm running my last payroll this week," and warned that without funding the organization could lose both paid staff members.
City staff and councilors probed alternatives and timing. Elaine (city staff) said the fiscal-year 2026 budget does not include the request and that, if council agreed to one-time funding for FY26, the money would need to come from reserves: "for FY26, because it's not in the budget, it would be coming out of reserves." Councilors discussed partial or time-limited support (for example, covering payroll through the high-revenue summer/fall events) and asked city staff for financial options ahead of the next meeting.
Downtown Winooski provided detail on revenue sources: sponsorships and event-specific fundraising supply much event funding; a smaller set of "community donations" (shown in the packet as $7,500) supports general operating costs. The group cited a recent $5,000 general-fund gift from Redstone and said Redstone also gives event-specific support (for example, $1,500 for Halloween). The organization reported raising "just over $15,000" in one community fundraising drive for placemaking materials.
Councilors also asked about equity and business outreach. Councilor Christine asked whether Downtown Winooski reaches BIPOC and New American-owned businesses; board members and staff acknowledged capacity limits, noting the organization currently has roughly "one and not quite a half" staff position and that the Working Communities Challenge grant (which supplements some capacity) is scheduled to sunset in June 2026.
Councilors and staff discussed timing and narrower options: (1) a short-term payroll advance so staff remain paid while council evaluates longer-term options; (2) a one-time appropriation covering the full $50,000 request; or (3) a multi-part commitment spread over quarters to reduce immediate reserve impact. Downtown Winooski said it would accept phased funding and that the group’s fiscal calendar is often treated on a calendar-year basis because event revenue is seasonally concentrated.
A resident commented during public comment in support of Downtown Winooski, saying the organization’s events are central to the city’s community life and that they would personally support tax funding to maintain programming.
Votes at a glance - Liquor Control Board: Motion to approve six items on the liquor control board consent agenda. Motion by Thomas; second by Charlie. Outcome: approved (motion carries). (Recorded at the start of the meeting.) - Winooski City Council: Motion to approve the consent agenda (city council and liquor control board minutes from March 17 and accounts payable warrants). Motion by Councilor Aurora; second by Councilor Charlie. Outcome: approved (motion carries).
No formal council vote was taken on the Downtown Winooski funding request. Councilors requested additional financial analysis and asked staff to return with options. Council members referenced an additional meeting to continue discussion (council noted a planned follow-up meeting on April 7).
