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Portage redevelopment commission adopts three confirming TIF resolutions to advance major development projects
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Summary
The Portage Redevelopment Commission voted to adopt confirming resolutions for three tax-increment financing (TIF) allocation areas — Kayak 0.1, Simon Southwest and Simon Southeast — clearing the way for bonding and developer-led construction of warehouse, retail and manufacturing projects in coming months.
The Portage Redevelopment Commission voted unanimously at its April 23 meeting to adopt three confirming resolutions that formally memorialize statutory steps for new and modified tax-increment financing (TIF) allocation areas.
The commission approved confirming resolution 2026-03 for the Kayak 0.1 allocation area, which staff said will support two major industrial tenants that together could total roughly 400,000 square feet of light industrial or manufacturing space along US 20. Commissioners then approved confirming resolution 2026-04 for the Simon Southwest allocation area (the BJ’s warehouse project and related retail/office development) and confirming resolution 2026-05 for the Simon Southeast allocation area (Project Runway Southeast / Target-related development).
Why it matters: adopting these confirming resolutions is a required step before the commission and developers can move into bonding and incentive agreements. Carl Sender, the commission’s municipal financial advisor, told members the TIF revenue stream funds debt service on existing bonds and supports redevelopment objectives, noting the commission had collected what he described as "just under $9,000,000" in tax increment receipts for the reporting year. Staff said developers for the Simon projects plan to purchase their own bonds and that construction activity is expected across US 12, US 20 and US 6 corridors in the next three to six months.
What was decided: staff opened each statutorily required public hearing; no members of the public remonstrated in any of the hearings. Each confirmatory resolution was approved by voice vote. Commissioners were asked to notify the county auditor by the statutory deadline if any assessed value could be released from allocation areas; staff emphasized the importance of timely filings. As staff noted during the meeting, "there was potential legislation that if a redevelopment commission did not provide a timely notice of capture, that there was a potential 5 to 15% automatic reallocation and pass through," (S2).
Next steps: the confirmations allow staff and developers to proceed with bonding, finalize economic development agreements, and begin site work where applicable. The commission also said it will follow up with the county auditor and legal counsel to complete required filings.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 941 — topfinish SEG 1179 (Kayak 0.1; Simon Southwest; Simon Southeast).
