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Brookings proposes downtown grants: facade, interior revitalization and safety programs
Summary
City staff proposed three downtown incentive programs—Facade Grant ($100,000), Downtown Revitalization Incentive Program ($200,000) and Lights, Camera, Action ($20,000)—to spur building rehabilitation, interior redevelopment and safety/place-making in the B-1 Central Business District.
City staff presented three proposed downtown incentive programs intended to spur private investment and preserve the character of Brookings’ central business district.
Sam Beckman, assistant to the city manager, told the council the city has budgeted $100,000 for a facade grant, $200,000 for an interior-focused downtown revitalization incentive (DRIP) and $20,000 for a Lights, Camera, Action grant to address lighting, cameras and small placemaking projects. He said the funds would come from the city’s economic-development reserves, which are replenished from land-sale proceeds.
On program specifics, Beckman said the facade grant would offer a 50% match up to $25,000 for exterior-preservation work that aligns with Downtown Brookings design guidelines and often requires historic review. DRIP would offer a matching grant up to $25,000 for interior rehabilitation projects that meet a $75,000 minimum project cost to ensure transformative investment; eligible work listed includes ADA upgrades and electric and plumbing improvements. The Lights Camera Action grant would match 50% up to $2,000 for lighting, security camera hookups and placemaking elements such as decorative bike racks.
Business and downtown stakeholders responded favorably. Stephanie Mason of the Brookings Economic Development Corporation said BEDC supports the incentives based on business engagement and surveys. Angie Borsma, a downtown architect and business owner, asked whether professional-service costs such as architect fees could be counted toward owner equity; staff said in some programs professional fees can count toward the project total but that the city would not reimburse ineligible costs from grant funds and that staff would clarify program documents.
Staff said applications will open in January, with a March 1 submission deadline and a review committee composed of city staff and downtown stakeholders expected to score applications. Staff committed to clarifying eligible versus ineligible costs, the composition of the review committee, and the program descriptions before release.
Next steps: staff will finalize program guidelines and eligibility language, confirm review-committee membership, and prepare materials for an early-January launch and a March 1 application deadline.
