The Soldotna City Council enacted an ordinance that accepts grant funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce – Economic Development Administration and increases estimated revenues and appropriations by $360,000 in the Parks & Recreation Capital Projects Fund for the Soldotna Riverfront Redevelopment Master Plan.
According to City Manager Stephanie Queen, the funds will enable the development of a master plan to create a pedestrian friendly ‘Main Street’ along the Kenai River, which would transform the local economy through waterfront redevelopment:
“As the council knows, we were selected competitively to receive these grant funds from the Economic Development Administration and this ordinance would appropriate those funds, so they are available for spending. We currently are advertising the request for services for the professional consultant services. So, we’ll be coming back to you once the competitive process moves forward, but this would allow us to have the funds ready and available to use at that moment.”
The City of Soldotna expects to receive $360,000 from the EDA for the master plan, but the grant requires a match in the amount of $90,000 (equates to 20% of the project). The city previously appropriated $90,000 as part of the 2020 capital budget for the purpose of downtown redevelopment planning and consultation, which is available to use as the city’s local match.
The city is hoping to transform the local economy through waterfront redevelopment. This project specifically will plan for and design critical infrastructure, reclaim a brownfield site, and highlight the river as an economic driver for local businesses. Key elements of the scope of work includes public and stakeholder engagement and coordination; market analysis; environmental review; conceptual planning; feasibility analysis; and master planning.