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RDA approves edits to Downtown Business Grant rules, adds ADA and vacancy safeguards
Summary
The Village of Bonduel Redevelopment Authority approved changes to its Downtown Business Grant Program to allow exterior ADA improvements (excluding sidewalk replacement) as eligible costs and to require grant recipients to remain off the vacant building registry for one calendar year or face repayment.
The Village of Bonduel Redevelopment Authority on June 10 approved revisions to its Downtown Business Grant Program Guidelines that add exterior accessibility work and place a post-award residency requirement on recipients.
Jesse Rankin, an RDA member, told the board he is working with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) to finalize paperwork for a Small Business Development Grant and presented the suggested changes. The board voted, on a motion by Brad Luepke and second by David Schultz, to adopt the guidelines and the Downtown Business District Grant Program application with the presented edits; the motion carried unanimously.
Under the approved changes, "Exterior ADA requirements (excluding sidewalk replacement or excavation)" were added to the list of eligible costs. The application also now includes a requirement that businesses receiving grant funds must remain off the vacant building registry for one calendar year; if a grantee appears on the registry within that year the entire grant amount would be subject to repayment. RDA members said the registry condition is intended to discourage businesses from closing shortly after receiving awards.
The board did not specify grant award amounts, scoring criteria, or an implementation timetable during the meeting. Rankin said WEDC paperwork is still being finalized. The ordinance and application materials will return to staff for final processing and publication once WEDC requirements are complete.
The RDA also handled other routine business at the meeting and tabled several agenda items for a future session.
