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Talent seeks $1.4 million CDBG to buy 49 Talent Avenue for community resource center
Summary
The City of Talent applied for a $1.4 million Community Development Block Grant to acquire 49 Talent Avenue for a community resource center; councilors asked whether the site could be designed as an emergency resiliency hub and suggested public engagement if the grant is awarded.
Talent city staff told the council on Oct. 2 that the city submitted a Community Development Block Grant application for $1,400,000 to acquire the property at 49 Talent Avenue for reuse as a community resource center. "The application is for $1,400,000 to acquire the property at 49 Talent Avenue for reutilization as a community resource center," the city manager said during the meeting.
The city manager said Business Oregon will review CDBG applications and that award announcements are expected in November; if an award is made, the city expects a grant‑agreement packet to return to the council and then to go through the state's signature process over several weeks. Council members discussed possible uses for the building and raised the idea of making it a resiliency hub that could support the community during an emergency. Mayor Arisblood asked whether the city could "build into lease agreements" the ability to convert the space to a resiliency center; staff replied that the city could make the community resource definition broad and that other grants may be available to support resiliency conversions.
Council members proposed holding a public town hall to solicit community input on how the space should be used if the grant is approved. Councilor Cooley and others encouraged broad community engagement to inform decisions about programming and operations.
The city also reported it is in continuing correspondence with Oregon Housing and Community Services and consultant ICF on a related peer project grant; staff said they expect a grant award letter and a draft grant agreement in the coming days. The council did not take a formal vote on the CDBG application during the Oct. 2 meeting.
Next procedural steps: Business Oregon will review the application and issue award notices (staff said announcements should come by November). If the city receives an award, staff said they will place the grant agreement on a future council agenda for approval.
