Board approves two grant awards; chair recuses from vote on her residential grant

The Beachside Redevelopment Board on April 8 approved two redevelopment grants after staff presentations and brief public comment.

Redevelopment project manager Angela Armstrong described the first request as a small commercial grant for 817 Main Street, a new vintage retail business operated by Kimberly Wickman. Armstrong said the small grant program pays 75 percent of eligible project costs up to $15,000; for this application, the total project cost was $5,920 and the calculated grant amount is $4,440. Applicant Kimberly Wickman spoke to the board about refurbishing the storefront and plans to operate a year‑round vintage shop called Wickmans.

The second item was a residential façade grant for 136 South Grandview, with a total project cost of $9,855. Armstrong said the program pays 50 percent of the cost up to a $5,000 cap; the calculated grant award is $4,927.50. Chair Amy Pyle announced she would recuse from the vote on that application because the house is her own: "I'm recusing myself because that's my house that got painted," she said.

Both items were presented separately and were the subject of short public remarks endorsing the investments. The board moved and seconded each item and approved both grants by voice vote; the minutes record the motions as passing unanimously. No detailed roll‑call vote tally was recorded in the meeting transcript.

Next steps: staff will process the reimbursements per program rules and follow the program’s documentation requirements. Board members discussed outreach to increase program takeup, including notifying contractors and posting program information on community channels.