Downtown grant program draws interest in NYM
News | Published on April 23, 2024 at 2:57pm GMT+0000 | Author: Tucker Henderson
0By Tucker Henderson
Reporter
The New York Mills Economic Development Authority met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 17 to discuss economic development within the city.
First on the docket for new business was a request from Chris Roberts of the Newton Township board of directors. He had corresponded with City Clerk Julie Roberts that the township was intending on replacing their township shed on the corner of Centennial 84 Drive and North Broadway Avenue. The township wanted to place two large “Small Town, Big Life” signs on the corners of the building, facing the street on each side. Since the sign will be promoting the city, he was hoping that the EDA would pay for one sign and the township would purchase the other.
The EDA board was open to this idea and will be discussing the details with Newton Township on a later date.
Betsy Roder asked if there would be other city buildings or locations that could benefit from a similar sign and if a bulk discount could be had if the EDA ordered multiple signs.
The Downtown Matching Grant Program has already garnered interest and Julie Roberts said that she already has three applications, as well as several calls about the program. The program provides matching funds to update the exterior of businesses and their properties. The NY Mills EDA decided that the loan committee will review current applications on May 3 in order to have them ready for approval by the next meeting of May 8.
In the future, applications will be due on the first of the month in order to be approved at the EDA meeting and subsequently accepted or denied by the city council at their meeting. Information for the program will be available on the city’s website.
In other news
• The city closed on two lots in the Country View Addition and another lot has been approved to sell. This means there are eight lots left in the addition.
• Discussed an idea for storage units to be built in South Point, or another location, to draw interest from businesses without the need of a storefront, people with the need of a workshop or hobby location, and others in the area. One major problem with building in South Point for the time being is the need of a lift station for future septic hookups.
• The T19 building, owned by the City has been sold. A building for the sand and salt equipment storage may be added to the City Center in the future if the need arises.
• Lots at 103 and 105 S. Main were in the process of closing the day of the meeting.
• On the topic of succession planning, the board was happy to report that Rachel Grieger’s dental practice was sold to Tammy and John Anderson and has already reopened as Mills Family Dentistry.
• The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 8:30 a.m. at the City Hall chambers. The meeting is pushed forward in order to review the first batch of grant applications for the Downtown Matching Grant Program.