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Board considers another round of $40,000 façade grants as part of placemaking budget
Summary
The board reviewed carryover of two $40,000 façade grants into next year and discussed whether to fund another round; members praised the program's long-term downtown benefits and asked the design committee to consider a larger, more impactful round in future years.
Staff recommended carrying over two façade grants (originally budgeted this year) into the 2027 budget because reimbursements may not be complete, and explained the design committee would like to fund a new round of façade grants. One member said the program "is a great program that should continue" and suggested keeping funding at meaningful levels to preserve downtown building stocks.
Members debated whether to expand the program or reserve funds for maintenance-only projects; staff noted that the placemaking line in the draft budget could grow to about $130,000 if another $40,000 round is approved and that committee discretion has guided past awards. The board did not make a final funding decision but signaled support for continuing façade improvements and asked the design committee for recommendations on impact and scale.
