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Baker City council backs Downtown Revitalization Organization's application for 'Designated Main Street' status
Summary
Council adopted Resolution No. 3971 endorsing the Baker City Downtown Revitalization Organization's application to the Oregon Main Street program for 'designated Main Street' status, enabling eligibility for additional technical assistance and small grants.
Baker City — The Baker City Council voted Jan. 14 to endorse the Baker City Downtown Revitalization Organization’s (BCD) application to the state to become a designated Main Street community, passing Resolution No. 3971.
Ariel (first reference in the record used the single name in presentation) told the council Baker City Downtown (BCD) is currently at the affiliated level with the Oregon Main Street network and that the designated level would make the community eligible for additional consultation, workshops and small technical-assistance grants. Ariel said many of the designated-level requirements were already met and that the organization has secured more sustainable funding and a full-time director.
The resolution, read aloud at the meeting, affirms the council’s endorsement of submitting an application to the State of Oregon for designated Main Street status and notes the city’s interest in downtown revitalization as an economic and quality-of-life priority. The resolution passed with no recorded opposition.
Councilors asked whether designation would increase costs for downtown businesses; Ariel and a BCD speaker said it would not, explaining that local supporterships and the nonprofit’s membership structure determine downtown funding and that Oregon Main Street does not set local business fees. The council moved, seconded and approved Resolution No. 3971.
After the vote, BCD representatives invited council and the public to their annual meeting on Feb. 4. Sherry Stewart, the state coordinator for Oregon Main Street, was mentioned in the meeting as having visited BCD in September and encouraged their application.
