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Council hears economic development quarterly update as URA grants exhaust biennium funding
Summary
Staff reported 19 grants issued since August, $600,000 URA business grant funding largely spent and a request to the Milwaukie Redevelopment Commission to replenish funds; council and staff agreed on outreach to grantees and business clusters.
Assistant City Manager Joseph Biriglio and Economic Development Coordinator Sierra Williams updated council on quarter-two work on the city's economic development goal, reporting progress on business grants, events, public parking information and place-making projects.
Staff said the promotional storefront/tenant-improvement grant program has issued 19 grants since last August and eight grants in the most recent quarter. The pool of URA grant funding for the biennium ($600,000) is effectively exhausted; staff reported three applications in the pipeline. Biriglio and the finance director told council they are preparing a budget-adjustment request to the Milwaukie Redevelopment Commission so the city can sustain the program's momentum.
Why it matters: the grants are intended to improve downtown commercial spaces, attract tenants and preserve businesses. City staff said successful grants typically "lock in" improvements for several years and that high demand suggests an ongoing need for program funding.
Key highlights and clarifications from staff: - Grants and pipeline: 19 awards since August; eight awarded this quarter; three applications remain in the pipeline. Staff will propose additional URA funding for consideration by the Milwaukie Redevelopment Commission and the budget committee. - Storefront and tenant projects: staff showed before-and-after photos and progress on several tenant improvements. Jan Stakery (tenant improvement) is expected to complete work around September; one predevelopment award supports a Waldorf School childcare feasibility study and conceptual design. - Milwaukee Fest and business engagement: staff created an advisory committee for Milwaukee Fest and coordinated outreach to downtown businesses, including vendor outreach and street-closure notices. Staff also released a public parking map to reduce event-related parking confusion; the map highlights four public parking lots plus park-and-ride and transit options. - CET / citywide grants: staff is preparing materials and a web update for a new round of citywide (CET) business grants; staff said eligibility and program elements will largely mirror the URA program but will serve areas outside the URA. - Bike parking: staff is formalizing a request/approval/installation standard operating procedure; council was told about 24 new public bike parking spaces ordered for a specific downtown block and that roughly six racks were installed in the recent quarter. - Processes and web publishing: staff will update the grants web pages on the new website once it goes live and will use the site to support storytelling about grant recipients.
Council direction and next steps: Council asked staff to provide a single list of recent grantees and talking points so councilors can conduct outreach; several councilors volunteered to personally visit businesses to gather feedback. Staff said they will supply contact information and a brief set of common metrics/questions for council use. Council and staff also discussed convening outreach tables for distinct business clusters (International Way, North Milwaukie Industrial Area and neighborhood business districts) and agreed to pilot one-on-one business visits to inform later roundtable meetings.
Ending: staff said they will return with a budget adjustment proposal for the URA grant program and will provide the grantees list and suggested survey/talking points to council so members can begin outreach.
