ITEM TITLE:
Approval of Beautification Task Force Recommendation to Award 2021 Beautification 50:50 Matching Grants in the Amount of $42,149.22
SUBMITTED BY: Allie Ferko, MMC, Deputy City Clerk
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $42,149.22
Unencumbered Balance: $114,128.75
Funding Source: 350.5550.55000 (Beautification Task Force Reserve)
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Beautification Task Force recommendation to award 2021 Beautification 50:50 Matching grants in the amount of $42,149.22
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
Following advertisement, the Beautification Task Force received 12 applications for the 2021 Beautification 50:50 Matching Grant Program. (Blank application with program guidelines attached for reference.
Ten of the 12 applications were determined to be eligible. One applicant was disqualified due to delinquent property taxes. (Program criteria requires eligible properties to be current on property taxes.) A second applicant was disqualified as they submitted their application after the established deadline. (Program criteria clearly states late submissions will not be accepted and the Beautification Task Force did not feel it was appropriate or equitable to waive the submission deadline requirement).
After careful consideration of program goals, detailed review of submitted applications, and scoring each eligible project, the Beautification Task Force selected and recommends awarding grant funding to the following five beautification projects in 2021:
Organization Property Address Maximum Grant Award
Growler Bay Brewing Company 224 Galena $4,200
Valdez Outfitters 241 North Harbor Drive $10,000
D&R Properties 2310 Richardson Hwy $9,974.22
Robe River Storage 455 9th Street $10,000
Glacier Mini Storage 155 Mill Street $7,975
Total 2021 Grant Awards: $42,149.22
Under grant program requirements, business owners can apply for a grant rebate to pay up to 50 percent of the actual cost of improvements, with a maximum reimbursement of $10,000 per building. Projects involving corner buildings or buildings spanning double lots may request larger grant amounts, not to exceed a maximum reimbursement of $20,000.
After all grant project work is complete, awardees must submit a reimbursement package which includes documentation of actual costs expended on the scope of work as outlined in their grant award letter. The grant is a reimbursable 50:50 match, at a not-to-exceed amount (reimbursed at 50% of actual costs up to grant award).
The attached spreadsheet outlines specifics related to adjusted allowable project scopes, request/award amounts, etc.
The spreadsheet also outlines why the remaining applicants were not selected to receive 2021 grant awards. Non-selected applicants will be provided guidance as to how they can best adjust their projects to meet program criteria in 2022.
This is the 6th year of the Beautification 50:50 Matching Grant Program.
While this year’s total grant award recommendation is under $100,000, expenditures related to this grant program are traditionally recommended by the Beautification Task Force and approved by City Council.
Members of the Beautification Task Force will be present during the City Council meeting to answer questions related to the grant project selection process. The recording of the March 30, 2021 Beautification Task Force meeting where grant applications were reviewed is also available on the city website (www.valdezak.gov/agendas <http://www.valdezak.gov/agendas>) for those interested in listening to the group’s discussion.