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DDA advances revised microgrant plan: committee review, $200,000 pool, March application window
Summary
Board discussed changes to the DDA's 2026 microgrant program: creation of a volunteer grant committee to review awards (with a 21-day appeal to the full board), raising the pool to $200,000, opening applications March 6 and closing May 1, and a hard final-report deadline of Oct. 30, 2026. Formal approval is scheduled for the March meeting.
The DDA discussed revisions to its 2026 microgrant program that would shift application approvals to a volunteer grant committee, increase the program pool and set firm application and completion deadlines.
Josh, presenting the packet, said the program "pretty much follows what was in place last year" but includes a new grant committee to "have the authority to review and approve the grants" and an updated program total. "I just updated the amount of the grant program from 150,000 to 200,000," he said. He told the board the committee would be able to approve, deny or ask for more information and that a denied applicant could appeal to the full board within a 21-day appeal window.
Board members debated timing and process. Kimberly cautioned that volunteer reviewers may not be able to meet tight turnaround expectations and recommended the committee operate on a rolling-approval basis without a strict short deadline for volunteer review. Josh said staff and Main Street will help with outreach and application intake, and the DDA will move to an online application to streamline submissions.
After discussion the board directed staff to return a revised program at the DDA's March meeting. Staff and board participants agreed on an operational schedule Josh later summarized: open applications March 6, application deadline May 1, and a hard final-report deadline of Oct. 30, 2026, for submission of final reports, documentation and reimbursement requests. Josh said the committee will be created and members appointed at the DDA's March meeting; until then, applications will be accepted beginning March 6 but the board will take formal action to adopt the final program in March.
Why it matters: The changes are designed to speed decision-making and reduce staff overhead by delegating routine approvals to a volunteer committee while preserving an appeal path to the full board. Raising the fund to $200,000 increases available assistance for local small-business facade, signage and small capital projects.
What's next: The DDA will consider the revised program and formally appoint the committee at its March meeting. Staff was asked to coordinate with Main Street on outreach and to provide the board with periodic status reports as applications are approved.
