Downtown board trying to give away $57,000

RED OAK — The Downtown Urban Renewal Board is desperately trying to give away $57,000 for improvements to local qualified businesses.

Formed in 1997, the Downtown Urban Renewal Board receives $60,000 in funding from the Red Oak City Council to disperse to businesses for improvements to their buildings.

After carrying over $27,000 in funding from last year, the board still has $57,000 in funds to give out by June 30, which is the end of the City’s fiscal year.

“The purpose of this program is to keep our downtown looking good, so like other small towns, we don’t have buildings falling down,” Downtown Urban Renewal Board President Jan Norris said. “A lot of the building (owners) downtown have taken advantage of the program, because we have a beautiful downtown. So it’s obvious the program is working.”

To receive funding, business owners need to complete an application detailing their improvement plans. Certain projects that meet eligibility requirements detailed in the application are eligible to receive up to $7,500 in assistance.

Those projects include exterior paint and window replacement, awnings, permanent roofing, boiler/furnace replacement and electrical wiring improvements.

As long as it is a permanent improvement to the building, the project is eligible for review by the board for funding, which is 25 percent of total cost, up to $7,500.

The seven-member board reviews the application for a first round approval, and then a final review once actual expense receipts are submitted for reimbursement.

Board Member Darrel-Steven Carlyle said the Board and its review process promotes a consistent appearance in downtown buildings.

“Their whole goal in life was to make the downtown aesthetically pleasing and consistent in its appearance,” Carlyle said of the board.

Many businesses have used the funding for new roofs, which to qualify, must come with a 15-year warranty.

But recently, Fountain Perk owner Audie Rainey applied for and received the maximum funding of $7,500 for a total renovation of his building.

Before opening the downtown coffee shop at 322 E. Coolbaugh, Rainey replaced all the sewer and water lines, insulated the basement and ceiling, replaced the bathrooms, and restored “every inch” of the first floor.

“I’m not sure we would be here without it,” Rainey said. “I think it’s a wonderful program and is a great opportunity for business owners.”

Carlyle stressed the review process is only for businesses who want to pursue funding through the renewal board.

“We aren’t saying ‘no you can’t do that,’ but there are eligibility requirements to receive the funding,” he said.

Norris said the funding and ensuing review process is designed to provide an incentive for aesthetically pleasing improvements.

 “The board wants to consider anything that isn’t totally out there,” Norris said. “We try very hard. It’s the board’s goal to approve every application that comes to us.”

Rainey said the review process is fairly painless.

“It’s a pretty small effort for the reward involved,” he said. “It’s just a little bit of paperwork, and they walk you through it step-by-step.”

The downtown district, as outlined in the Tax Increment Financing project that directs personal property taxes to the project, is defined as the area east of Broadway, north of Grimes, west of sixth street, and south of Hammond.

As fewer businesses apply for projects, Norris said the board has adjusted funding guidelines, including raising the maximum amount from $5,000 to $7,500. They are currently considering revising guidelines again to allow business owners to apply for funding more than once a year, as long as the total amount does not exceed $7,500.

“Our amount of money isn’t that huge, but every little bit helps,” Norris said. “And we have made our downtown a much more appealing place through just a little help.”