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Downtown group reports grants, market sales and new committees to Astoria council
Summary
Quinn Hayes of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association told the council ADHDA secured a $400,000 Main Street grant for Copeland Commons, has helped bring almost $1 million in restoration grants over 10 years, and reported about $2 million in vendor sales from Sunday market; Hayes described staffing changes and new committees for 2026.
Quinn Hayes, executive director of the Astoria Downtown Historic District Association (ADHDA), briefed the Astoria City Council on the group's 2025 results and 2026 priorities.
Hayes said ADHDA recently won a Main Street revitalization grant of $400,000 to support the Copeland Commons project and that the organization has helped attract just under $1 million in façade and building restoration grants over the past decade. "Last year, we were the recipient of a main street revitalization grant in the amount of $400,000 to go towards the Copeland Commons project," Hayes told the council.
He said ADHDA-managed events helped local vendors: "These last two years, actually, the gross vendor sales at our Story of Sunday market have topped $2,000,000 throughout the entire season collectively for all the vendors," Hayes said, and estimated peak attendance at the Sunday market at about 10,000 visitors. Hayes also described staffing changes and a decision to move away from a membership funding model toward a broader support base, and announced two new committees for 2026: an arts and culture committee and a dedicated Sunday market committee.
Councilor Adams asked about employee benefits and accreditation. Hayes said ADHDA offers two full-time staff medical coverage ("we cover 100% of medical") and participates in accreditation reporting with Main Street Oregon and Main Street America.
Hayes said Promote Astoria (transient lodging tax/TLT) funds were used for tourism-promotion activities; he reported $120,000 in Promote Astoria funds for the ADHDA in fiscal year 24/25 and said funds support advertising, marketing and payroll portions tied to tourism promotion.
