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Downtown group outlines plan to rebrand events, seek larger funders and expand facade grants
Summary
Rediscover Downtown Peru presented a transformation strategy to diversify funding, shift away from the monthly "2nd Saturday" brand toward larger year-round festivals, and continue façade-matching grants that RDP says have leveraged six-figure private investment.
Rediscover Downtown Peru presented its 2026 priorities to the council, asking the city to continue funding façade grants and to support a shift from a monthly "2nd Saturday" model to a year‑round cultural hub and a small number of larger flagship events.
"Again, my name is Terry Smith. I'm president of Rediscover Downtown Peru," RDP president Terry Smith said as he walked council members through a packet of activities and financials. Smith said the group's façade-improvement grants have distributed over $218,000 and helped attract about $1.6 million in private investment. He said RDP has received about $76,300 in grants since 2015 and that the city currently allocates $15,000 annually for downtown promotions and $30,000 in other direct support.
Smith described a strategic change: sunsetting the 2nd Saturdays brand and concentrating on fewer, higher-impact events and improvements. "We are pivoting to try to diversify our funding and to make better programs and bring more people downtown," he said, noting Cole Porter Festival as a reliable economic driver that "lands in the black 5 years in a row." The plan includes outreach to business owners at an August 28 mixer and a renewed volunteer engagement platform to reduce volunteer burnout.
Council members pressed RDP for specifics about funding and spending. Councilmember questions focused on the $15,000 promotions reimbursement, the $30,000 city allocation, and whether Makita/TIF funds were being used for façade awards; RDP representatives said the $15,000 program is a city reimbursement line and that Makita/TIF money had been used for additional façade funding when applications exceeded the annual allocation.
Terry Smith said the organization will open a façade application window (October 1 to January 31), budget roughly $10,000 per year for façade awards, and continue to pursue outside grants when project scope permits. He emphasized the group's aim to align city, chamber and TIF stakeholders under a "team Peru" approach so responsibilities and credit are clearer.
The council did not take any formal action but asked RDP to return periodically with updates and to coordinate further during budget discussions.
