The Soldotna City Council passed a resolution that would authorize the city manager to apply for a grant of $360,000 from the U.S. Economic Development Agency for a planning and feasibility analysis related to the Downtown Riverfront Redevelopment Project. In passing Resolution 2021-051, the city also expressed a commitment to provide a local match of $90,000 with funds that were previously appropriated for the project.
The City of Soldotna identified the planning and design phase of the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Project as an eligible activity for ARPA EAA funding as a non-construction project, which was listed a priority under the city’s FY22-FY26 5-year Capital Improvement Plan.
City Manager Stephanie Queen:
“The total budget would be $450,000 of which the city has already appropriated $90,000. So we would be seeking the $360,000 from the federal government through this program. The scope of work would allows us to do a very deep dive and detailed analysis on the feasibility of this project, which includes environmental work, market assessments, some conceptual designs, a master planning, exploring funding opportunities. We would work with both the landowners as well as partner organizations and the general public to have a very good sense of whether downtown redevelopment is going to be in the community’s best interest. It’s an exciting project because it’s a very effective economic development strategy that communities have employed throughout the United States. We happen to have a phenomenal river running through our downtown, which has not been utilized in this way in terms of bringing people to it and bringing a new main street to it. I’m proud of the work our staff’s done. We’re excited potentially to move forward.”
In approving the resolution, the City Manager can file an application for EDA funds through the EDA’s FY2021 ARPA EAA grant program. The resolution unanimously passed.
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