Minot committee backs moving downtown façade grant changes to council; asks for funding review and possible sunset

The Economic Development Plan Review Committee on May 9 voted to advance proposed revisions to Minot’s façade improvement program to the City Council, including language changes to funding splits and a recommendation that the council consider a future sunset date for the program.

Committee members debated whether the city should preserve the program at its current funding level, or reduce the city cost-share so funds could be redirected to other priorities such as workforce or single-family housing development. Committee member Tyler moved to modify the program recommendations, including striking an item that would apply the program to additional areas of town and ‘‘change the structure of the program by changing the city applicant percentage or reducing the amount offered per application,’’ and the motion was seconded and passed.

The motion asked staff to move the façade item from the committee’s “other notes” section into the primary recommendations to council and accepted language adjustments Tyler proposed, including explicit consideration of a sunset date.

Brian, speaking for the Renaissance Zone Review Board, described current program parameters: ‘‘The facade improvement program is eligible to any property located in the Central Business District, which is pretty much Downtown Minot. Frontage building is eligible for up to $100,000 in funding. A double frontage building or a building that's wider than 55 feet is eligible for up to $180,000 in funding. There's also a 75, 20 5 percent split that's in there as well.’’ He said the city reimburses no more than 75% of eligible expenses up to the cap, and that the review board is considering lowering the cap or increasing the local match.

Committee members noted the program’s successes downtown but said it is well funded compared with typical façade programs and suggested several possible adjustments — for example, changing the local match to 65/35 or lowering the per-project cap — so the city could stretch limited economic development dollars across a broader set of priorities. Committee members also urged staff and the Renaissance Zone Review Board to consider whether program eligibility should remain limited to the Central Business District or be adapted for other commercial corridors.

Clarifying details provided during the meeting: staff reported nine completed façade projects, three currently under construction and five additional properties working with architects and expected to apply in the near term. Committee members and staff repeatedly described the program as a hybrid façade/historic-preservation restoration program rather than a small-scale awning or storefront program.

The committee’s motion passed and will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration as part of the committee’s recommended economic development package.