[OMS_MANAGERS] Fwd: Baker City Downtown - OMSRG funding question

[BCD ED Ariel Reker]

Here is the email I sent to our state representatives about the OMSRG. Feel
free to R&D!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: BCD ED Ariel Reker <director at bakercitydowntown.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 9, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Subject: Baker City Downtown - OMSRG funding question
To: <Rep.MarkOwens at oregonlegislature.gov>
CC: BCD Board Members <bcd.board at bakercitydowntown.com>


Good afternoon Representative Owens,
BCD <https://www.bakercitydowntown.com/>is a Designated program with Oregon
Main Street and affiliated with Main Street America. We are a local 501(c)3
nonprofit that represents and serves one of the largest and most intact
historic downtowns in the entire PNW, right here in Eastern Oregon.

Grant season is upon BCD and I have been having the same conversation every
week - letting folks know that last August during the legislative session,
the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant was not funded for the next
budget cycle. From my understanding, the project was not eliminated, and
could be funded in future budgets.

Are you familiar with the OMSRG
<https://www.oregon.gov/oprd/OH/Pages/Grants.aspx>program? BCD
<https://www.bakercitydowntown.com/grant-opportunities>has won it each time
it has been offered since 2017, our most recent win was last year and is
scheduled to be completed in 2028. Here is a table with a few data points
for your review.

Grants Year Building Award Match Note

Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant
2017 Crabill $100,000 $389,550 roof, completed July 2020
2019 Haskell $200,000 $128,038 upper floor structural, completed Feb. 2021
2022 Baker Orpheum Theatre $200,000 $102,209 seismic study and
stabilization, completed Jan. 2025
2023 Pythian Castle $200,000 $110,608 ADA lift and secondary
ingress/egress, completed Dec. 2024
2025 Baker Loan & Trust $400,000 $253,180 ADA elevator & 2-bedroom
apartment, in progress, 2028 completion
$1,100,000 $983,585 match will likely increase due to rising costs

Preserving Oregon
2023 Masons $4,000 $4,000 paint original windows and doors, completed Aug.
2023
2024 Masons $15,844 $17,094 replumb whole building, completed July 2024
Diamonds in the Rough 2024 Pantatorium $15,260 $16,609 facade restoration,
completed March 2025
$35,104 $37,703 does not include private building owner's completed grant
projects
GRAND TOTAL $1,135,104 $1,021,288
As you can see, the OMSRG program brings significantly more grant dollars
into our community (matched by private investment) than the smaller grant
programs. While the Preserving Oregon and Diamonds in the Rough grant
programs are great; these grant programs have much smaller grant awards,
applications face significantly more competition (we did not win any last
year as they saw a jump from 30+ applications to 70+), and are just not
intended for nor capable of providing the comprehensive rehabilitation and
revitalization of historic buildings in our communities like the OMSRG
accomplishes.

Baker City has over 80 historic commercial buildings in our downtown
district that are in need of maintenance, rehabilitation, and
revitalization. We have many local building owners with shovel ready
projects who want to invest in their buildings and their community - they
just need grant support to do so sustainably.

I'm not sure what next steps are or when the OMSRG will be reviewed again
for funding, but I am available to chat with you or your staff about the
importance of this program for Oregon, and especially Eastern Oregon cities
like Baker, as the grant is required to award 50% of its grant dollars to
rural communities.

Historic buildings require special attention and care; they are our built
heritage, and downtown Baker City is one of Baker County's best
attractions, economic drivers, and community spaces.

Thank you for your time,
Ariel M. Reker

Executive Director
Baker City Downtown

541.283.6963
director at bakercitydowntown.com
Office: City Hall Room 203, 1655 1st St., Baker City OR 97814
Mail: PO Box 1148, Baker City OR 97814
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