Label
White Box Grant Program
Department of Economic Development
Sandy Spang (x1641) / Brandon Sehlhorst (x1692)
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and Department of Economic Development to implement a White Box Grant Program; authorizing the Mayor to enter into program grant agreements; authorizing, subject to annual appropriations, the expenditure of funds from the General Fund for the White Box Grant Program; and declaring an emergency.
Body
SUMMARY & BACKGROUND:
The White Box Grant Program addresses chronic vacancy in Toledo’s Downtown and neighborhood commercial corridors. The program is part of the city’s Vibrancy Initiative, a comprehensive approach to revitalization that addresses building exteriors through the Façade Improvement Grant and vacant first floor commercial interiors through the White Box Grant (“WBG”). The Vibrancy Initiative is designed to enhance the city’s vitality by supporting revitalization efforts that create jobs, reduce blight, and preserve and improve buildings.
The WBG program helps property owners bring vacant, commercial, first-floor spaces up to current codes to create a functional "white box" space ready for customization and occupancy by a business. The program provides a matching grant of up to $75,000 for first-floor, interior renovation expenses that address accessibility, building code and fire code deficiencies. Building owners are required to provide a 30% match and must either occupy the space as a business owner or actively market the space for lease.
This ordinance authorizes, subject to annual appropriation, the expenditure of funds from the General Fund for the White Box Grant program, to be administered by the Department of Economic Development. For fiscal year 2023, an amount of 300,000 was included in the approved operating budget for this purpose.
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 White Box Grant program.
SECTION 2. That the Mayor is authorized to award White Box 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, expenditures are authorized from the General Fund Account Code 1001-16400-5661001STDWBG for the White Box Grant Program.
SECTION 4. That the Finance Director is authorized to issue warrant or warrants against the account code identified in Section 3 in payment of the above authorized obligations upon the proper voucher or vouchers.
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 White Box 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