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Kenosha redevelopment plan approved; Uptown façade grant set to launch in January
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Summary
The Kenosha Redevelopment Authority received a report that the city's redevelopment plan has cleared the Plan Commission and Common Council and staff will launch a $50,000 Uptown Fa—ade grant program in January 2026; the city also used expiring CDBG acquisition funds to buy a vacant lot in Uptown.
The Kenosha Redevelopment Authority on Oct. 21 received a report that the city's redevelopment plan has been approved by both the Plan Commission and the Common Council and is now final.
City staff told the authority that the board-approved $50,000 allocation from the capital improvement program (CIP) for an Uptown Fa—ade Grant is also finalized, and staff are working with finance and the city attorney to produce the contract and reimbursement process ahead of a planned January 2026 launch and marketing campaign.
The approval of the redevelopment plan and the Uptown Fa—ade Grant matter because they set funding and contract processes that staff said are intended to support building rehabilitation, business retention and recruitment in the Uptown neighborhood.
Staff said the authority's earlier authorization of $50,000 from CIP funds for the Uptown Fa—ade Grant has been accepted by the finance committee and council; the authority will not issue grant awards until the contract and reimbursement procedures are completed. The staff update noted the authority will advertise the program and expects to begin taking applications after the launch.
Separately, staff reported the city applied for a WEDC (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation) grant for an Uptown Business Recruitment and Retention program and advanced to WEDC's second phase of review. Staff said final WEDC award decisions are expected in December 2025; if awarded, the recruitment program would launch concurrently with the Fa—ade Grant in January 2026.
City staff also told the authority that the city used Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds that were about to expire to acquire a vacant lot owned by the Danish Brotherhood Society at 622220 Second Avenue in Uptown. Staff said the acquisition was completed so the funds would not lapse and those lots can now be placed into the Home Kenosha or redevelopment inventory for future use.
The authority moved to "receive and file" the redevelopment report. The motion carried unanimously in a voice vote with all members present voting in favor.
Staff said they will return with the draft contract and reimbursement forms once reviewed by finance and the city attorney and will provide program materials before the planned January rollout.
