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Staff recommends applying for Tennessee downtown-improvement grant; deadline Sept. 12
Summary
City staff recommended applying for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Downtown Improvement Grant cycle; staff said the state program will accept applications by Sept. 12 and encouraged the city to seek funds for downtown public improvements with a possible state award up to $500,000 and a city match.
City Manager Scott College and staff told the study session the city should apply for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TDECD) Downtown Improvement Grant cycle and asked council to authorize pursuing the application.
Staff said the program encourages improvements in downtown business districts and that city staff previously had success in an earlier grant cycle. Scott reported the grant cycle’s application deadline as Sept. 12 and said award announcements are expected Oct. 15. He said Laurie Fisher will prepare the grant application as she did previously, and staff met with TDECD officials who encouraged Shelbyville to apply.
Staff discussed potential project uses including public improvements, kiosks, streetscape and signage extending beyond the square to other downtown corridors. Scott said the grant program’s typical maximum award is up to $500,000; staff noted the total project concept discussed for downtown improvements could reach $752,500 and that the city would be responsible for any local match required by the program. Scott said staff would watch program boundaries and eligibility for businesses beyond the square.
Quote: “It is a $752,500. And the grama allocation is up to 500,000 this year,” Scott College said when describing the project concept and the state program’s award cap.
No formal vote was recorded at the study session; staff recommended preparation of the application and said the application-writing team would proceed if the council confirms authorization on the business agenda.
