Label
Facade Improvement Grant Program
Department of Economic Development
Sandy Spang (Ext. 1641) / Brandon Sehlhorst (x1692)
Revised
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and Department of Economic Development to implement a Facade Improvement Grant (“FIG”) Program; authorizing the Mayor to enter into program grant agreements; authorizing, subject to annual appropriations, expenditures from the General Fund for the FIG Program; and declaring and emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The Vibrancy Initiative was established to enhance the City’s vitality by supporting revitalization efforts that will create jobs, reduce blight, and preserve and improve structures throughout the City. The Vibrancy Initiative is a comprehensive approach to revitalization that addresses building exteriors through the Facade Improvement Grant (“FIG”), and vacant first floor commercial interiors through the White Box Grant.
The FIG program is designed to assist property owners with transforming the facade of commercial, industrial, and mixed-use buildings. The program provides a matching grant of up to $40,000 as reimbursement for eligible expenses associated with a comprehensive facade improvement. Building owners are required to provide a 50% match and must either occupy the space as a business owner or actively market the space for lease.
This ordinance authorizes the expenditure of funds, subject to annual appropriations, from the General Fund for the FIG program, to be administered by the Department of Economic Development. For fiscal year 2023, an amount of $320,000 was included in the approved operating budget for this program.
Summary
NOW, THEREFORE, Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Toledo:
SECTION 1. That the Mayor and Department of Economic Development are authorized to implement a Facade Improvement Grant program.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to award Façade Improvement Grants and enter into any necessary agreements subject to terms and conditions deemed proper and requisite according to the Director of Law and the Director of Economic Development.
SECTION 3. That, subject to approved annual appropriations, annual expenditures are authorized from the General Fund Account Code 1001-16400-5661001STDFIG for the Façade Improvement Grant Program.
SECTION 4. That the Finance Director is authorized to issue his warrant or warrants against the account code identified in Section 3 in payment of the obligations incurred pursuant to grants authorized in Section 2.
SECTION 5. That it is found and determined that all formal actions of Council concerning and relating to the passage of this Ordinance were adopted in an open meeting of Council and that all deliberations of Council and any of its committees that result in such formal action were in meetings open to the public in compliance with all legal requirements, including Section 121.22, Ohio Revised Code.
SECTION 6. That this Ordinance is declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force immediately from and after its passage. The reason for the emergency lies in the fact that same is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety and property and for the further reason that this Ordinance must be immediately effective to facilitate the Facade Improvement Grant Program.
Vote on emergency clause: yeas 10, nays 0.
Passed: March 21, 2023, as an emergency measure: yeas 10, nays 0.
Attest:
Gerald E. Dendinger Matt Cherry
Clerk of Council President of Council
Approved: March 21, 2023
Wade Kapszukiewicz
Mayor