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Perry council approves $15,000 hotel-tax appropriation for downtown improvement grants
Summary
The City of Perry agreed to create a downtown business improvement program that makes up to $5,000 available per project and appropriates $15,000 from the hotel-motel tax for the program; council and Main Street leaders discussed eligible uses and marketing.
The Perry City Council approved a one-time $15,000 appropriation from the city’s hotel-motel tax to seed a downtown business district improvement program that will offer grants up to $5,000 per project.
The measure, presented as funding to support building rehabilitation for businesses or residential conversion in the downtown district, passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes. Council members said the program is intended to create “win-win” opportunities for the city and property owners by supporting projects that generate additional sales tax or utility revenue.
Main Street director Laura delivered the quarterly report tied to downtown efforts and answered council questions about how the grant program would be administered. Laura said the city will accept applications through the city and that Main Street staff will help publicize the opportunity and refer potential applicants. “We were doing our transformation strategies on Thursday and Friday…we had over 480 responses,” Laura said, describing the recent community survey used to shape downtown priorities.
Council members and staff discussed eligible projects, noting the draft program’s emphasis on facades while asking that interior work and essential life‑safety improvements be eligible as well. The council specifically noted sprinkler systems and other fire/life-safety items as examples of higher-cost but eligible uses. City staff said they would coordinate application intake through the city and leverage Main Street’s outreach to business owners.
The council and staff described the $15,000 as a one-time appropriation from available hotel-motel tax funds for the current budget year. Council members said the appropriation will be depleted as awards are made and that any future funding would require separate action.
Votes at the meeting showed a unanimous roll-call approval. The council also recorded that the program will be advertised on the city website and through Main Street outreach, and that staff would return with implementation details as applications begin.
The program is intended to complement existing Main Street facade grants and other incentive tools, not to replace them. Officials said they will monitor early demand and, if the program attracts additional applicants, may request more funding in a future budget process.
