Bowie approves $75,000 match for TEDCO grant as Old Town revitalization advances
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Summary
The council approved Resolution R-3-26 to disburse $75,000 in city matching funds to Incubate Community Development Partners after hearing a presentation on an Old Town Bowie 'Maker District' and related funding and site plans. The city had appropriated the money in the adopted budget; the action authorizes disbursement.
The Bowie City Council voted Jan. 5 to approve Resolution R-3-26, authorizing a $75,000 city match to Incubate Community Development Partners in support of a TEDCO makerspace grant for Old Town Bowie.
The appropriation for the match was included in the city's adopted budget earlier in the fiscal cycle; the action taken Jan. 5 authorizes disbursement of those previously appropriated funds. John Henry King (speaker in the meeting) explained the timeline: staff included matching funds in the budget, the community development corporation applied to TEDCO and was awarded the grant, and the resolution was the final step to release the match.
Incubate Community Development Corporation President Mark Lawrence told the council the Old Town revitalization work focuses on a small-scale "Maker District" built around light manufacturing, crafts, food production and shared makerspaces. Lawrence said the plan emphasizes activating underused properties, a branded "Crafted in Bowie" campaign, community outreach (he said more than 350 residents were surveyed), and a phased approach to owning or leasing strategic sites such as the old firehouse and other parcels he described as the "Assemblage Opportunity." He said TEDCO funds would support feasibility and initial planning for one or two makerspaces.
Council members asked for details about operations, management and partnership models; Lawrence said the first priority is shared infrastructure and activation, with measurable job and business formation data expected after spaces become operational. Several council members and city staff highlighted the need for clear implementation steps and oversight if the city were to pursue property acquisition, ground leases or a commercial community land trust as longer-term options.
The council moved the resolution and carried it by voice vote. The record indicates the $75,000 had been budgeted and is now available for disbursement to Incubate CDC as the required match to the TEDCO award.
Next steps: Lawrence and Incubate CDC will continue site work, fundraising and planning tied to the TEDCO award; the council asked staff to coordinate reporting and follow-up details on how the match will be spent and how the city might structure ownership or stewardship if properties are acquired.
