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Evanston approves application for $100,000 planning grant to create "Evanston 2050" economic master plan
Summary
The Evanston City Council voted to authorize an application to the Wyoming Business Council for a $100,000 Business Ready Community planning grant to fund a 25-year comprehensive economic development master plan, with local matching funds and public outreach planned if the grant is awarded.
The Evanston City Council on Jan. 21 voted to authorize an application to the Wyoming Business Council’s Business Ready Community Planning Grant Program to fund an "Evanston 2050" comprehensive economic development master plan.
City grant writer Mika Madrid told the council the city is requesting $100,000 and will provide a local match; the city will contribute $37,500 and the city has already secured $50,000 from WYDOT as an overmatch. Madrid said any cost overruns would be the city’s responsibility, the application is due Feb. 1, and the council should know the Business Council’s decision in April or May; funding would be available by June if approved.
The master plan is meant to produce a detailed, actionable 25-year blueprint covering demographics, land use, infrastructure, transportation, parks and recreation, public safety, housing, workforce development, business development and other topics. Madrid said the planning process will include extensive public outreach, data collection and review of prior municipal plans.
During the public hearing, downtown property owner Alex Rossi urged the council to include a downtown revitalization strategy in the plan, saying Main Street is relatively “sparse” after midafternoon and that a plan should encourage people to work, visit and live downtown. Rossi asked about the expected timeframe; Madrid replied that the timeline depends on funding, and if the grant is awarded the city expects to bid the work after funding is available and then begin the project.
Councilors discussed the project as overdue and supportive of public meetings; one councilor noted earlier budget steps and prior attempts to fund planning work. Council members introduced and passed Resolution 25-07, authorizing the application and expressing council support for preparing the grant application.
The council did not record a roll-call tally tied to named movers in the hearing record; the mayor called the measure approved after members voted “aye.”
If approved by the Wyoming Business Council, the planning contract selection and the detailed outreach schedule will come back to the council for review and implementation decisions.
