Staff outlines microenterprise, land bank and pilot updates; board accepts SOP

Agency staff briefed the board on a range of ongoing programs and projects, including the microenterprise program, land bank grant awards, a pending EPA brownfield assessment application and a pilot project with Lockheed. During the administrative business portion of the meeting, a member moved to accept the agency’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and the board agreed to move the SOP forward.

Staff said the microenterprise program’s initial round was successful, with one project left to close out; they expect a renewal application and another call for projects. The land bank was reported as receiving a $750,000 award from a New York State program to rehabilitate vacant rental or commercial units, with grants of up to $75,000 per unit for qualifying owners; staff said they would finalize grant guidelines before issuing a call for projects.

Staff also said the agency applied for a $500,000 EPA brownfield assessment grant to help evaluate underutilized or brownfield sites; they expected an award decision within weeks. On the Lockheed pilot, staff reported that Lockheed’s Rochester legal team had received documents and internal review timelines were uncertain; the existing pilot agreement does not expire until March 1 of the following year.

Separately, the board discussed MRB-related policies and procurement and a member moved to accept the SOP as presented; a second was recorded and members supported moving the document forward. The transcript records voice assent but does not include a roll-call vote tally or the names of the mover and seconder in the meeting record.

Staff listed additional project updates including a completed George Smith master park plan (seeking funding sources), a mobile food program funded by a $250,000 county grant and various grant reimbursement and ARC/USDA application statuses. No executive session was convened and the meeting closed with informal remarks.