Lebanon Redevelopment Commission approves $100,000 for Heart of Lebanon events and downtown placemaking

The Lebanon Redevelopment Commission voted to award Heart of Lebanon $100,000 for 2025 to support downtown events, staffing and placemaking, the commission said during its meeting. The motion carried by voice vote after a commissioner who also serves as president of Heart of Lebanon declared an abstention.

Heart of Lebanon’s executive director, Missy Kreulik, told the commission the organization is seeking $100,000 for 2025. “The board has asked that I, asked for a hundred thousand dollars for the Heart of Lebanon this year,” Kreulik said. She described the request as an increase from prior years tied to rising costs and new project work.

The funding request follows an annual report in which Heart of Lebanon leaders said the organization produced 35 programs and events in 2024 that drew more than 38,000 visits across downtown. Kreulik cited individual event attendance measured by cell-phone counts: 7,700 users at Mischief on Meridian, 5,020 at Christmas on the Square and 3,400 at the Total Eclipse in the Heart. The group also said it supported 61 businesses during its largest event and provided free platform space to about 31 nonprofits at events.

Denise Niblich, vice president of Heart of Lebanon, emphasized volunteer and business impacts. “A thousand hours of volunteers is no small feat,” Niblich said, and she said some downtown retailers reported sales spikes tied to event weekends — one local bakery reported a roughly 25% gross sales increase on event weekends compared with the prior weekend, she said.

Heart of Lebanon also described capital and placemaking work: the organization said it activated a long-vacant storefront for its office, completed the Ally Oop alley project and spent $106,809 on that placemaking effort. The group reported 11 new downtown businesses in 2024, four building sales, and 16 buildings that underwent interior improvements.

Kreulik said Heart of Lebanon’s funding mix relies on community partners, private donations, grants and event revenue; she said the organization does not receive dedicated tax funding. She told commissioners the group had secured four grants in 2024 but will lose a major grant contributor in the coming year, making local public support more important to maintain programming and to add another full-time staff member to coordinate events.

Lebanon’s mayor urged support for the request, saying a thriving downtown helps attract workers and employers. “The heart of Lebanon, frankly, has been a hugely impactful organization just for our community,” the mayor said, noting that downtown improvements help recruitment and quality of life.

Commissioners praised Heart of Lebanon’s work while pressing for a budget breakdown. One commissioner who said they also serve as president of Heart of Lebanon announced they would abstain from voting because of the dual role. Another commissioner asked Kreulik to provide the organization’s detailed operating budget next year, noting this year’s request represents roughly a 33% increase over the prior year’s $75,000 allocation.

After brief comments, a commissioner moved to approve $100,000 for Heart of Lebanon’s 2025 operations and projects; the motion received a second and passed by voice vote. The commission did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the motion was announced as carried.

Claims and other routine business followed and the commission adjourned.

Votes at a glance — Motion to fund Heart of Lebanon $100,000 for 2025: approved by voice vote; one abstention by a commissioner who identified themselves as president of Heart of Lebanon; no recorded nays in the public transcript.