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Downtown business owners press council for transparency after façade grant dollars redirected
Summary
Business owners asked why façade-grant dollars were repurposed after the program was announced as sunsetting; the mayor said funds were reallocated as part of a broader downtown revitalization strategy that included a $180,000 city investment and purchases of three buildings for $360,000 with Indiana Landmarks loan support.
Several downtown business owners pressed the Tiffin Common Council about the city’s façade grant program and recent use of related dollars.
Brandon Chapel Ford (215 Northwest Street) told the council he believed façade‑grant funds were spent on a North Main property after an earlier Dec. 10, 2024 communication had said the program would be "sundown." He asked why those dollars appeared to be spent for a building auction that occurred months later and said the process felt "very selective" and lacked transparency.
Mayor (Speaker 1) responded that while the decision to sunset the program was discussed in December, some dollars remained in the budget line and that staff later pursued a broader downtown revitalization strategy. He said the city explored a model using a trust organization to acquire buildings to create economies of scale for rehabilitation and that the city had invested $180,000 into that effort. According to the mayor, three buildings were purchased for a total of $360,000 with loan support from Indiana Landmarks; those were purchases, not donations.
Abby Ritter, a Tipton Main Street participant and façade grant recipient, said the prior application process was rigorous and that downtown businesses deserved an explanation if funds were redirected. "It is disheartening to know about... it does feel very, very, like it was a secret," Ritter said, urging clearer public communication.
The mayor said the administration is working on visuals and messaging to explain the downtown strategy and that the door remains open to reengage outside partners. He said the city paused to better recruit local partners and to clarify the vision before moving forward. The council did not vote on changes to the façade program at the meeting.
What’s next: city staff said they are developing public materials to explain the trust strategy and how the dollars will be used; business owners requested a clearer timeline and public access to the redevelopment plan.
