Finance committee narrows Building Improvement Grant eligibility, tightens administrative requirements

The City Finance Committee on Jan. 20 approved administrative and eligibility changes to the Building Improvement Grant program under Legistar 91,439. The primary eligibility change removes property owners from program eligibility unless they also own and operate the business receiving the grant.

Ruth, a program staffer, said the modifications are "very minor and administrative," including requiring applicants to provide a state ID or driver's license, adding two additional TIDs to the program area, and conducting an in-person walkthrough of the space.

Ruth also said the program previously allowed purchase of equipment when ARPA funds were available; because the program now uses TIF funding, language allowing equipment purchases was removed. On the scope of the impact, Ruth said the program has made "over a 100 of these grants" and estimated that "maybe 5 or fewer" of those were pure property-owner applicants who would be excluded under the new rule because they do not operate the businesses themselves.

Alder Rivera asked whether the Downtown Business Improvement District had been consulted; staff said Saran had conversations with the BID and that a BID subcommittee is engaging the program. With no further discussion, the committee recorded a unanimous vote in favor of the adjustments; staff said a larger economic development strategy later in the year may prompt additional program updates.