Dubuque Main Street Challenge Grant_Letter of SupportMasterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
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AI- America City
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2007 • 2012 • 2013
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Dubuque Main Street Request to Endorse Application for Iowa Challenge
Grant
DATE: October 15, 2013
Dubuque Main Street Executive Director has requested an endorsement of the
Dubuque Main Street application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority for a
2013 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant.
I respectfully recommend Mayor and City Council approval of the endorsement.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Dan LoBianco, Dubuque Main Street Executive Director
MAIN STREET
1069 M A I N S T R E E T . DUBUQUE • IOWA • 5 2 0 0 1 - 4 7 2 4
[ 5 6 3] 5 8 8- 4 4 o o •[ 5 6 3] 5 8 8- o 6 4 5 -FAX • W W W. D U B 0 0 0 E M A I N S T R E E T. O R G
October 15, 2013
Dubuque City Council Members
City of Dubuque
50 West 13' Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001 -4864
RE: Request to endorse Dubuque Main Streets Application for a Main
Street Iowa Challenge Grant
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council Members:
As a purchase of Service provider for the City of Dubuque, Dubuque Main Street (DMS) regularly seeks grant
opportunities to fund great downtown development projects for our city center.
Seven such opportunities have been sought through the Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants, from which DMS
has obtained allocations in all funding cycles to date, for seven diverse building rehab projects. We are the
only program in the state to receive this funding each cycle.
Another MSI Challenge Grant opportunity is available for application in November 2013. One of the Iowa
Economic Development Authority's requirements in this cycle is to have the City governing body endorse the
local programs application, so I am asking the City Council to endorse our efforts by way of the attached
document. I have also attached the specifications for this grant program.
This year's grant application will be requested in partnership with the Washington Neighborhood
Development Corp. We are requesting the maximum grant amount to supplement /replace dwindling funds for
the Central Avenue Corridor facade grant program, currently funded utilizing TIF. Our intention is to fund
three or four facade improvements, with property owners matching monies committed to leverage the state
investment.
If anyone wishes additional information on Dubuque Main Street's grant pursuit, please contact me at 563-
588 -4400.
Sincerely,
Daniel L. LoBianco
Executive Director
Sincerely,
Daniel L. LoBianco
Executive Director
cc: Mike Van Milligen
A M A I N S T R E E T I O W A A F F I L I A T E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
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2007 • 2012 •2013
2013 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant
Office of the Mayor
City Hall
50 West 1310 Street
Dubuque, IA 52001 -4864
www.cityofdubuque.org
October 21, 2013
The City of Dubuque supports Dubuque Main Street's application to the Iowa Economic
Development Authority: for a 2013 Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant. We further state that
representatives of local building and /or fire code officials who may be responsible for
inspection of project properties have reviewed the project proposal.
We further agree that all historically significant properties submitted for consideration in this
application will comply with the Secretary of Interiors Standards for historic property
rehabilitati
0
Roy D. Bt 6I, Mayor
City of Dubuque, Iowa
Date: AP 01///
Attest:
Ke n S. Firnst hl, C.
Jerk
even E rl h, President
Dubuque Main Street
Date: / / /,l
Main Street Challenge Grant
Main Street Iowa
Iowa Downtown Resource Center
Iowa Economic Development Authority
200 East Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
MAIN STREET
IOWA
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Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) are proud to
announce the availability of Main Street Iowa Challenge Grants. Main Street Iowa has a
proven track record of success administering numerous HUD Challenge Grants. Over the
years, approximately $4,900,000 in federal funds has leveraged $36,000,000 in private
reinvestment in 83 projects in 41 Main Street Iowa districts.
A state appropriation was made to the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA)
for the Main Street Program to assist participating cities improve the physical and economic
health of their designated Main Street districts. This state appropriation will allow Main Street
Iowa to offer matching Challenge Grants to participating communities for vertical
infrastructure projects.
A maximum of $950,000* in funds will be awarded to eligible applicants for bricks and
mortar projects within designated Main Street districts. Each program may receive a single
award from this funding round. Only one application per community is allowed.
Main Street Iowa staff will review all applications for eligibility, project impact in
designated Main Street district, design appropriateness, innovation and utilization of the Iowa
Green Streets Criteria. Successful applicants will be notified in writing of the grant awards.
All awarded projects must agree to provide Main Street Iowa with appropriate
budgetary information and expenditures. Main Street Iowa also reserves the right to share
this information, including before, during and after photographs of each project for
educational and promotional purposes to further the mission of historic commercial district
revitalization in the context of historic preservation.
*$50,000 is federal funded HUD funds. The projects) using this pool of funds will need to comply with all
federal guidelines and requirements as mandated by HUD
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ELIGIBILITY:
GRANT AMOUNTS:
GRANT CRITERIA:
ELIGIBLE PROJECTS:
Main Street Iowa Challenge Grant
Terms
Main Street Iowa communities with current contracts who are meeting
all contractual obligations including National Main Street Accreditation
once within the past three years will be considered eligible for the Main
Street Grant funds. Eligible projects must be within the designated Main
Street district. Only the Main Street organization in participating
communities may submit applications on behalf of local projects,
properties and businesses. Awards will be made to the applicant Main
Street organization, hereafter referred to as the Grantee, for
disbursements to locally designated grant beneficiaries.
Maximum awards for this grant round will be $75,000. Minimum grants
will be no less than $15,000. No community shall receive more than one
award per application round.
Grantee must show community support evidenced by the local
contributing effort. Grantee or the grant beneficiary(s) must invest at a
minimum a dollar for dollar cash match and must supply requested
financial information to show that the match requirement is being
satisfied.
Grantee and all Grant Beneficiaries agree, to the best of their ability, to
complete designated projects within 24 months of the conditional award
notification or show just cause for the delay.
Main Street Iowa communities in good standing with the program and in
compliance with all contractual requirements from previously awarded
funds if any, may apply on behalf of a property or project within the
designated district. Only one submission per community, per round will
be permitted.
Rehabilitation and /or restoration of privately held properties within the
designated Main Street district. This can include, but is not limited to:
- Fagade improvements (Front, rear and side)
- Upper floor interior rehabilitation
- Structural repairs /improvements
- Code compliance
- First floor interior rehabilitation
- Energy efficiency /sustainability improvements
- Site amenities (Decks /patios /exterior spaces)
- Single specific phase of a large rehab. The project must have
a specific defined focus and clearly identifiable scope of work
including start /end dates and milestones for completion.
Rehabilitation and /or restoration of historically significant public buildings
(city or county) located in the designated Main Street district. Including
but not limited to. Court Houses, City Hall, Libraries, Fire Houses, U.S.
Post Offices.
Compatible New Construction including building additions with first floor
commercial and upper floor(s) commercial or residential within the
designated Main Street district. Razing of an existing structure to allow
for new construction will not be considered an eligible use of funds.
Multiple properties committed to a mutually agreed upon improvement or
series of improvements located within the designated Main Street district
that will have a major impact on all affected properties. This may include,
but is riot limited to, the following:
- Improvements to the facades (front or rear) of a highly visible
group or block of buildings;
- Installation of an elevator and common hallway linking several
buildings;
- Handicapped accessibility improvements serving multiple
buildings /storefronts like a common ramp or lift.
- Sprinkling of multiple properties with a central master control
room.
- Energy efficiencyisustainability upgrades like green roofs for
multiple buildings, geo- thermal well fields, etc.
-Upper rehabilitation of a number of spaces for residential uses.
EXPENDITURES /MATCH:. No previous expenditures of any kind will be considered as suitable cash
match for a project. This statement applies to both new applicants and
additional submissions for phased projects.
The match requirement may include necessary project "soft" costs for
professional service i.e. architectural or engineering studies directly
related to the project/property.
NOTE: Previous Grant Beneficiaries (projects /buildings) who are
completing a large, phased project may apply for additional Main
Street Iowa Challenge Grant funding so long as the scope of work
authorized in the previous award is complete and all funds
dispersed.
REHAB /CONSTRUCTION Main Street Iowa staff will review building plans and specifications for
STANDARDS: design appropriateness. Plans must meet all local code requirements
and comply with the defined Iowa Green Streets criteria of IEDA. See
http:lliowaeconomicdevelopment.com/userdocsidocuments/iedallowa-
Green- Streets - Criteria.pdf for Iowa Green Streets Criteria.
Note: If a property is listed or deemed eligible for the National
Register of Historic Places or part of a National Register District,
the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation must be
followed.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Friday November 1, 2013. Completed applications must be in
the offices of the Iowa Economic Development Authority by close
of business at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 01, 2013. Late
applications will not be considered. Electronic applications will not
be accepted. Only completed applications including all required
documentation will be reviewed
Please provide an original and ONE copy of the application and all
required documentation.
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PROJECT REVIEW:
Main Street Iowa staff will review submitted projects and make awards
based on information provided in the grant application. Projects will be
scored and ranked according the scoring criteria outlined in the
application.
AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT: The announcement of project awards is expected to be
made in early December. Exact date and location to be determined.
Grantees will be notified of date and location as soon as details are
finalized. Attendance at the formal presentation ceremony is
expected!
PROJECT
COMMENCEMENT:
PAYMENT
CLOSEOUT /FINAL
INSPECTION
Once contracts are finalized and signed by all parties, and all designs
are finalized and approved, a project may begin construction. This is
expected to be as early as January 2014. Projects may not commence
without approval from Main Street Iowa and the Iowa Economic
Development Authority.
Funds for completed work will be disbursed at the following intervals; a
partial reimbursement payment may be made, if so requested, when no
less than one -half (1/2) of the project is completed and proper
documentation including photographs of completed work to date, copies
invoices of expenditures marked paid, and proof of payment are
submitted to Main Street Iowa. Partial payment cannot exceed 60% of
entire grant amount.
Final payment will be made upon project completion including final
inspection by Main Street Iowa staff. To request final reimbursement
payment, applicants must submit invoices of expenditures marked paid,
proof of payment and photographs of the completed project. Warrants
will be dispersed following a project inspection by Main Street Iowa staff.
Main Street Iowa will conduct a final site inspection /walk through before
final payment. Paid invoices and proof of payment are required before
final reimbursement is made. Projects that come in under budget will
receive 50% of approved project expenses. Under no circumstances
will IEDA pay more than 50% of the project expenditures.
The terms and conditions detailed above are a broad outline of the Main Street Challenge Grant and
are not intended to be all- inclusive. Terms and conditions are subject to change.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Main Street Iowa /Iowa Downtown Resource Center
Iowa Economic Development Authority
200 East Grand
Des Moines, IA 50309
PH. 515.725.3077
tim.reinders @iowa.gov
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