Commerce council authorizes RFP/RFQ as first step toward $1M downtown revitalization grant
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Summary
Council authorized an RFP for grant administration and an RFQ for engineering services to pursue a Texas Department of Agriculture downtown revitalization grant (staff said the grant can be up to $1,000,000 with a 5% city match).
The Commerce City Council on Jan. 20 authorized staff to issue a request for proposals for grant administration and a request for qualifications for engineering and design services to prepare a downtown revitalization grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture.
City Manager Happy Lisenby told council the downtown master plan identifies eligible projects and that the state requires an open, competitive process to select a grant administrator and an engineering team. Staff identified two priority projects for the application: a Farmers Market pavilion and downtown restrooms. Lisenby said the grant program allows awards up to $1,000,000 and that communities seeking the maximum points typically provide a 5 percent local match — in Commerce’s case, a $50,000 match — and staff indicated the city has funds set aside to cover that match.
Council moved, seconded and approved issuing the RFP and RFQ to begin the application process. Staff said phase 1 of the grant application is due in March and communities that score well are invited to phase 2.
Next steps: staff will issue the RFP/RFQ, evaluate responses and return to council with recommendations for a grant administrator, an engineering team and the final application package.
