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Greene County Daily World

Downtown revitalization grant denied for Bloomfield

Wednesday, December 5, 2007
By Timberly Ferree, Staff Writer

During its Wednesday meeting, Bloomfield Town Council President Eric Harrah announced that a recent attempt at a downtown revitalization grant was denied, but that seeking the $500,000 grant would continue.

"There were three categories and we were low on all of them," Harrah said. "It hurt us a lot when we didn't have letters of support."

In order to score well on the grant application, letters of support from business owners as well as residents and organizations are a must, he noted.

"We didn't get one from the Chamber of Commerce," Harrah added, noting that other shortfalls with the grant application also existed.

Council member Teressa Smith noted that personal letters of support also increase the chance of being awarded the grant.

Harrah then explained that he attempted to gain local support by dropping off form letters to area business owners as well as explaining the importance of the grant.

During the meeting, one resident voiced her concern over the public being unaware of the town's application for the downtown revitalization grant.

"You gotta get the community involved," she said. "There wasn't enough knowledge."

The deadline to re-apply for the grant is January, Harrah said.

Due to the change in council members in January, Harrah requested advice on the matter from Town Attorney John Rowe.

The on-going resolution to continue the grant application process is sufficient, Rowe advised.

Harrah then said, "As it stands we're going to go ahead and advertise it (grant)."

If received, the $500,000 grant would fund sidewalk, curb, gutter and lighting updates in the downtown area.

In other business, Town Marshal Kenny Tharp stressed his concern over the police department's current vehicles.

"We've been kicking vehicles around for the past six to eight weeks," he told the council.

Harrah agreed and said, "You are due to have one (new vehicle) next year. Early next year…One car is shot."

Tharp then stressed his concern about informing the new council members of this need prior to the new year.

"It's first on the agenda as far as I'm concerned," Tharp said.

Harrah noted his appreciation to Tharp for bringing the need up.

All three council members-elect were present at the meeting and took note on many matters from the meeting.

In January, Harrah, Smith and Gary Swinney will be replaced by council members-elect Roger Doane, Jo Ann Carmichael and Aaron Hamm.

Be sure to check out Friday's edition of the Greene County Daily World for more details on the December meeting of the Bloomfield Town Council.

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  • These grants are awarded using a points system. Letters of support will help to raise the number of points Bloomfield (or any municipal or county government applicant)receives. The more points you have the more likely it will be your grant is approved.

    Other things that increase points: A Bloomfield Comprehensive Plan, a Housing Needs Assessment, a Strategic Plan, an Economic Development Plan, or other plans. Those are usually paid for by applying for a planning grant and minimal match monies are required. SIDC helps with those grant applications.

    Also, letters of support from the Greene County Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary, Civitan, local businesses, the Redevelopment Commission, etc. are helpful for additional points.

    The process is difficult and many other communities apply for these grants. Bloomfield will need to be competitive by having as many points as possible. Having more points will also limit the amount of match monies and "paid points" you have to contribute. Many of these grants you have to pay for additional points. Sometimes it is $1000 per point, so if you are 5 points shy, the town would have to pay $5000 for additional points to qualify.

    -- Posted by Greenee on Thu, Dec 6, 2007, at 8:26 AM

  • Maybe if Bloomfield could have supported the swimming pool issue earlier they would of had the support for downtown.

    -- Posted by owensburg on Thu, Dec 6, 2007, at 10:02 AM

  • The grant is to do the sidewalks around the outside of the square. The pool would have nothing to do with it. I have heard the the Chamber of Commerce did not even turn in a support letter. This would be helping every business on the square. maybe they and the Chamber of Commerce will fill out the support letters now. Also sometimes these grants are applied for 3 - 4 times before they are approved. Some of the sidewalks especially on the north east side of the square are in pretty bad shape.

    -- Posted by citizen474 on Thu, Dec 6, 2007, at 11:21 AM
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