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Yamhill Downtown Association pursues Oregon Main Street affiliation and revitalization grant; committee discusses regional hub
Summary
Committee members heard that the Yamhill Downtown Association has applied for Oregon Main Street affiliation and is pursuing a state revitalization grant for property improvements; the committee discussed regional Main Street hub options and grant match mechanics.
At the Feb. 4 meeting the City of Yamhill Economic Development Committee received updates on downtown grant efforts: the Yamhill Downtown Association (YDA) is pursuing Oregon Main Street affiliate status and is preparing a revitalization-grant application for a downtown property that could be used for a coffee shop and roastery.
Meeting participants described the Oregon Main Street revitalization grant as funded from state lottery allocations and administered through the state program; applications must be submitted by an eligible local organization (the YDA) and typically require a property-owner match. Committee members said the grant requires the applicant organization to administer reimbursements and that a 30% match by the property owner is typical for these projects.
The committee also discussed joining a rural regional Main Street hub, where neighboring small towns coordinate programming, grant-writing and staff support through a sponsor (for example, a council of governments) and potential funders such as the Ford Family Foundation. Participants said a regional hub could provide grant-writing support and pooled services to small downtown organizations and cited contacts at the Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments and other nearby towns exploring similar hubs.
A YDA vote on a specific revitalization application was scheduled for the day after the committee meeting; one meeting participant recused from that local YDA vote because of property ownership. Committee members said the affiliation and hub efforts align with the committee's downtown priorities and could expand access to funding for storefront improvements, accessibility upgrades and building rehabilitation.
