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Portsmouth EDA approves grant reallocation, demolition plan and $66,500 market partnership in unanimous votes
Summary
At its Dec. 17 meeting the Portsmouth Economic Development Authority voted unanimously to reallocate $50,000 between grant programs, authorize a $10,000 demolition plan contract for 1028 High Street, and approve a $66,500 partnership for Bloom/Blue Market.
The Portsmouth Economic Development Authority approved three unanimous votes Dec. 17, 2024, shifting funds, authorizing a demolition plan and approving a local partnership.
Staff told the board the FY25 Business Investment Grant programs have strong demand for the startup and real estate grants but limited participation in the acceleration grant. Staff reported 20 startup applications and $12,000 awarded year-to-date; the acceleration grant had three applications with only one approved, for $5,000. The real estate investment grant program had been fully allocated, with staff saying an additional $351,000 had already been committed this fiscal year. To address interest from property owners and businesses, staff recommended reappropriating $50,000 from the acceleration grant to the real estate program, which staff said would bring that program’s total to $401,000.
An unidentified board member moved to transfer $50,000 from the acceleration grant to the Real Property Investment grant; the motion passed 7–0.
Separately, the board authorized staff to commit funds and enter a contract with Kimley-Horn to prepare a demolition plan for 1028 High Street. Staff said the work to prepare the demolition and erosion‑control plan is expected to cost about $10,000 and that, once executed, the plan would take roughly 30–60 days to complete before a bid package is issued for demolition work. The motion to proceed with the demolition-plan contract was adopted 7–0.
The board also voted to add a partnership request from a market operator to the agenda and approved a $66,500 partnership to support the market’s operations. The request was added by motion from Commissioner Barber and seconded by Commissioner Brown; the partnership was approved by a recorded 7–0 vote.
Staff said they will circulate grant details and next steps for the demolition contract once documents are executed. The EDA’s routine business also included year‑end remarks and thanks for staff and departing Commissioner Barbara.
The EDA did not specify in the meeting record the individual mover for the grant-reallocation motion by name; the reallocation, demolition-plan authorization and market partnership were recorded as adopted unanimously.
