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Redevelopment Authority reviews loan and storefront activation programs, eyes ARPA contingency
Summary
Waukesha City staff updated the Redevelopment Authority on loan and grant program balances, said the affordable housing rehab program is effectively exhausted, and described a storefront activation program with over $1 million committed and roughly $81,000 uncommitted; staff said they applied for a WEDC grant to expand the program and are working with finance on ARPA contingency transfers.
The Waukesha City Redevelopment Authority on Oct. 21 heard an update on its loan and grant programs, including a review of the housing development grant, rehabilitation loans and a storefront activation program supported with ARPA funds.
Staff member reported the housing development grant (HODA) program has an uncommitted balance as stated at the meeting and said the affordable housing rehabilitation program is essentially maxed out, with about $6,000 remaining. The authority’s development fund also has available dollars for smaller‑scale affordable housing projects, and staff said they continue to discuss opportunities with local developers.
On storefront activation, staff said the program has committed more than $1,000,000 in loans and has about $81,000 uncommitted; the funds are being targeted to meet federal ARPA deadlines and support storefront loans over the next two years. "It's been very successful," staff said, noting three additional projects were added in the previous month.
The authority applied to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation for a small business development grant to broaden the storefront program citywide, with a focus on low‑ and moderate‑income neighborhoods and older industrial areas that meet program criteria. Staff said a decision on the WEDC application is expected by year‑end.
Members asked whether uncommitted ARPA funds would need to be returned and whether transfers between eligible accounts were possible; staff said they are working with city finance to create contingency plans so funds can be transferred to eligible uses to avoid returning them to the state. A committee member asked staff to follow up with individual businesses, citing CoPilot Coffee (Amelia Cornell) as a potential candidate for assistance; staff agreed to make outreach to businesses that had inquired about the program.
The update concluded with staff encouraging continued developer outreach and with no formal action taken beyond the earlier approval of minutes.
