[OMS_MANAGERS] Revitalization Funding - After the Fact

[STUART Sheri * OPRD]

Hi Darin,

I don’t know of any retroactive grant programs. Grants are to encourage different things – maybe to encourage a property owner to undertake a project they might not otherwise have the funds to do or to encourage people to do a specific type of project to meet public policy. Each grant program is designed to meet a specific need, issue, challenge, or encourage a specific new way of addressing a problem, or….. In addition, they are usually tailored to fill a gap in funding. Grantors might think, if they could move forward with a project or activity w/o our funds, wouldn’t it be better to fund projects that wouldn’t happen w/o assistance? Where can we fill a need?

One of the best things you can do is to get in front of property owners about the types of incentive programs that are available, the timelines, etc. I think you probably already do a good job with this. And then it is up to them to determine if it meets their timelines. Plus, grant programs are super competitive so if they have the resources, they might not want to wait to apply for a grant they might or might not receive and be that much further behind if they have the capability of moving forward.

Sheri



From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of W Darin Rutledge, Executive Director
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 12:09 PM
To: STUART Sheri * OPRD via OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] Revitalization Funding - After the Fact

Good afternoon, everyone!

One of our property owners contacted me recently to assess whether there may be some funding assistance available for revitalization projects within the district. Sounds like an easy one, right? Well, after some due diligence, I came to understand that the revitalization work had already been completed. When I informed her that I was not aware of any funding sources that support work already completed, she replied indicating how disappointing that was, and how she “would think that the association wants to support revitalization work” and “seems like she should get some support for keeping a historically significant building functional and well-maintained.” Her primary argument – which I don’t necessarily disagree with – is that estimates for preservation work are often a wild guess anyway. Either that, or they are bid as time & materials to recognize that the contractor isn’t even going to try and guess how much work will actually be involved.

Knowing that the work that was completed is EXACTLY the type of work we would normally support, and that the only barrier to funding assistance was the timing of the project, it got me thinking. Anyone have thoughts on the following>?


  1.  Do you know of any programs where someone can complete the work then ask for funding? Is there some notification process required at the outset of the project, or do they just show up out of the blue asking for money?
  2.  Why not? I mean, I understand the argument for setting a scope of work, budget, etc. for these projects before we agree to invest, but what else prevents us from saying, “Come to us with your completed project, and proof that you’ve met our criteria and objectives and we’ll consider granting some funds”?

Thanks!

W. Darin Rutledge
Executive Director
Klamath Falls Downtown Association
darin at downtownklamathfalls.org<mailto:darin at downtownklamathfalls.org>
541.539.6212
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