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

Thu May 7 09:59:30 PDT 2026

This is awesome Ariel! Thank you for sharing!

Krystal Stevens
Deputy City Recorder & Municipal Court Clerk
City of Willamina
503-876-2242
 PUBLIC RECORDS LAW DISCLOSURE
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From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> On Behalf Of BCD ED Ariel Reker
Sent: Thursday, May 7, 2026 9:37 AM
To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>; Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: [OMS_MANAGERS] Fwd: Baker City Downtown - OMSRG funding question

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<mailto: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<mailto:Rep.MarkOwens at oregonlegislature.gov>>
CC: BCD Board Members <bcd.board at bakercitydowntown.com<mailto:bcd.board at bakercitydowntown.com>>

Good afternoon Representative Owens,
BCD <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bakercitydowntown.com%2f&c=E,1,5yTeoCU4OEKZuYTCwOOdXFfUd69RqlYtPLC37tgeHy_8W4ynUPgFPIs_Hm8Gm7IjQWv8EiBL6mgJRcO0UtGMbHjg0ywf3UO9jERMMvilRzqMMGGzgdThvSRDuRHp&typo=1> 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://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.oregon.gov%2foprd%2fOH%2fPages%2fGrants.aspx&c=E,1,NE-cf-BZGEYMgeJ0TVX6oWZ2LojXypKdaPWUk_Cwc7xLRokYEWViIP3-qG4yVT8EW9npESN_0zLkhcel1Jp06ZD8xb915XJN-EtkiB1v4oAyHw,,&typo=1> program? BCD <https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fwww.bakercitydowntown.com%2fgrant-opportunities&c=E,1,eOt-_aECpm5VTwJvpz6SYrsJWyK1l4-U2SKzTsYJgP9nu0BrCOhfxxLI69k7TrT7Y_UHl4kdzVDJEyAYh9VGb2WZRQA4metNRvxNnvDS8pyfJqxQ8_1VubH9uVYQ&typo=1> 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<mailto: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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