HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrant Request - Downtown Bend AssnEconomic Development Fund
Discretionary Grant Program
Organization: Downtown Bend Business Association
Organization Description: The Downtown Bend Business Association is a 25+ year old
organization working to improve the econommic vitality of Downtown Bend. They
orchestrate events like the Spring and Fall Art Hops, Ladies Night, Summer Sidewalk
Sale, Oktoberfest and the Holiday Tree Lighting event on Mirror Pond Plaza. The
organization also works on beautification projects through the use of flower baskets,
banners, sidewalk washing, cleaning and snow plowing.
Project Name: Downtown Bend Beautification - Banners
Project Description: The grant funds will be used to purchase of 24 "Welcome to
Downtown Bend" banners to be used year around. The banners would be adaptable,
using space at the bottom, to promote specific events.
Project Period: thru October 2008
Amount of Request: $2,400 (24 banners @ $100 each)
Previous Grants: None
end.org
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall St., Bend, OR 97701-1960
(541) 388-6570 - Fax (541) 385-3202 - www.deschutes.org
DESCHUTES COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
DISCRETIONARY GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION
Direct Application to:
Commissioner Tammy Baney
Commissioner Dennis R. Luke
Date:
8/18/08
Project Name:
Project Beginning Date:
Amount of Request:
Applicant/Organization:
Address:
Commissioner Michael M. Daly
All Three Commissioners
x
Downtown Bend Beautification -Banners
in progress
$2,400
Project End Date:
Date Funds Needed:
esraWc .
Downtown Bend Busin
Post Office Box 731
Contact Name(s):
Fax:
Chuck Arnold
same
Alternate Phone:
City & Zip:
Telephone:
Email:
788-3628
October 2008
September 2008
93-0826652
Bend 97709
(541)385-6570
chuck at downtownb
On a separate sheet, please briefly answer the following questions:
1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure, and activities.
2. Describe the proposed project or activity.
3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity.
4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's economic health.
5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit.
6. Itemize anticipated expenditures*. Describe how grant funds will be used and include the
source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if any. If the grant will
support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded in the future.
Attach:
Proof of the applicant organization's non-profit status.
* Applicant may be contacted during the review process and asked to provide a complete line item budget.
Amount Approved:
Declined:
By: Date:
By: Date:
flUTIIE11TIC • ECLECTIC • ESSEIlTIfll
Downtown Bend
Business Association
Post Office Box 731
Bend, Oregon 97709
(541) 385-6570
DowntownBend.Org
2008-2009 Board
CHUCK BAILEY
869 Wall Street
Director
TONYA BERNARDY
Liberty Bank
Treasurer
KELLI BROOKS
At The Beach
Secretary
JODY DENTON
Merenda/Deep
Restaurants
Director
GRETCHEN KOTH
Morgan MacKenzie
Vice -President
BILL PON
903 Wall Street
President
SCOTT RATCLIFF
Volcano Vineyards
Director
Ex-Offico
JEFF DATWYLER
City of Bend
GEORGE THAYER
Bend Metro Parks
Staff
CHUCK ARNOLD
Executive Director
Deschutes County Economic Development Fund
Discretionary Grant Program
Downtown Bend Beautification Program -Banners
1. Describe the applicant organization, including its purpose, leadership structure,
and activities.
The Downtown Bend Business Association is a private nonprofit working to improve the
economic vitality of Downtown Bend. The 25+ year old organization serves downtown
business and property owners and is governed by a Board of Directors.
The DBBA has a voluntary membership base of about 125 businesses and operates an
Economic Improvement District that is funded privately by all property and business
owners downtown. The DBBA orchestrates events like the Spring and Fall Art Hops,
Ladies Night, the Summer Sidewalk Sale (formerly Zany Dayz), Oktoberfest and the
Holiday Tree Lighting event on Mirror Pond Plaza. The DBBA also operates a number of
programs that beautify downtown including: flower baskets, banners, sidewalk washing,
cleaning and snow plowing, holiday tree lighting as well as improving downtown
infrastructure like trash receptacles.
2. Describe the proposed project or activity.
The proposed project is to expand the existing banner program in Downtown Bend.
Banners add color, life and set a pedestrian -friendly scale for a district.
The banner program has really grown over the past year as the DBBA has repaired banner
brackets that were installed over a decade ago by the Bend Urban Renewal Agency. At the
beginning of 2008, we had the ability to hang just 18 banners on street lamps. We can now
install 54 banners downtown.
The Deschutes County Economic Development Fund Grant, if awarded, would help fund
24 "Welcome to Downtown Bend" banners to be used year around and would welcome
visitors as they tour the region. The banners would also be adaptable with space on the
bottom that could be changed to promote DBBA events held for the community benefit
(ie -holiday tree lighting).
3. Provide a timeline for completing the proposed project or activity.
The banner program is currently underway. The DBBA has invested funds in floral
themed banners that now beautify Brooks Street as well as investing in new hardware. If
awarded, the program will move forward immediately. A local vendor has already
prepared a design for the proposed "Welcome" banners. Production and installation
would proceed immediately within 30 days of award.
Promoting the economic vitality by enhancing the experience, image & lifestyle of Downtown Bend
flUTHEfTIC • ECLECTIC • ESS
Downtown Bend
Business Association
Post Office Box 731
Bend, Oregon 97709
(541) 385-6570
DowntownBend.Org
2008-2009 Board
CHUCK BAILEY
869 Wall Street
Director
TONYA BERNARDY
Liberty Bank
Treasurer
KELLI BROOKS
At The Beach
Secretary
JODY DENTON
Merenda/Deep
Restaurants
Director
GRETCHEN KOTH
Morgan MacKenzie
Vice -President
BILL PON
903 Wall Street
President
SCOTT RATCLIFF
Volcano Vineyards
Director
Ex-Offico
JEFF DATWYLER
City of Bend
GEORGETHAYER
Bend Metro Parks
Staff
CHUCK ARNOLD
Executive Director
11TJHL
4. Explain how the proposed project or activity will impact the community's
economic health.
The Central Oregon economy is fueled in part by half a billion dollars annually from
visitors to the area. Downtown Bend is a launching point for many activities in the region
and a "must see" stop on any visit to the area. Maintenance of the quaint downtown is
essential in providing a quality experience for the visitor. Beautification, accentuated by
colorful banners will continue to add to the value of a quaint downtown and will impact
the entire community's economic health.
5. Identify the specific communities or groups that will benefit.
The program will specifically benefit the commercial business district in downtown Bend
by contributing to a more beautified downtown. The locally owned businesses that are the
heart of Central Oregon will benefit by having a district that is further cared for and thus
attracts and encourages more (and repeat) visitors.
6. Itemize anticipated expenditures. Describe how grant funds will be used and
include the source and amounts of matching funds or in-kind contributions, if
any. If the grant will support an ongoing activity, explain how it will be funded
in the future.
The anticipated expenditures for the grant funds are as follows:
24 banners
$100 each $2,400
The grant funds will be used to produce "Welcome to Downtown Bend" banners. The
DBBA has already provided $1,100 in match funds thru' the start-up of the Banner
Beautification Program by purchasing and installing 14 floral themed banners.
Furthermore, the Bend Urban Renewal Agency has provided about $1,700 in funding to
help repair and replace aging infrastructure in the form of new banner bracket hardware.
The DBBA has also provided over $1,000 in in-kind contributions of labor for the
installation of the banners and hardware.
The grant funds will support the ongoing Banner Beautification Program. We anticipate
the life of the banners to be about 5 years. It is anticipated that the DBBA will fund banner
replacement at that time.
Promoting the economic vitality by enhancing the experience, image & lifestyle of Downtown Bend
tig1 t'(" (,it,
P.O. Box 2508
Cincinnati 011 45201
BEND DOWNTDWNERS INC
PO BOX 731
BEND OR 97709-0731313
In reply refer to: 0248455888
Aug. 14, 2008 LTR 4168C E0
93-0826652 000000 00 000
00016157
BODC: TE
Employer Identification Number: 93-0826652
Person to Contact: SELLERS
Toll Free Telephone Number: 1-877-829-5500
Dear TAXPAYER:
This is in response to your request of Aug. 05, 2008, regarding your
tax-exempt status.
Our records indicate that a determination letter was issued in
AUGUST 1993, that recognized you as exempt from Federal income tax,
and discloses that you are currently exempt 'under section 501(c)(6)
of the Internal Revenue Code.
Because you are not an organization described in section 170(c) of
the Code, donors May not deduct contributions made to you. You
should advise your contributors to that effect.
If you have any questions, please call us at the telephone number
shown in the heading of this letter.
Sincerely Yours,
Michele M. Sullivan, Over. Mgr.
Accounts Management Operations I
BEND
CHAMBER
August 15, 2008
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall Street
Bend, Oregon 97701-1960
Dear County Commissioners,
I am writing on behalf of the Bend Chamber in support of the grant application being submitted
by the Downtown Bend Business Association for the Downtown Bend Banner Beautification
Program.
The Bend community relies on tourism dollars to help maintain our local economy. Our visitors
expect a well-maintained, charming downtown. Part of that picture is improvements like
banners that add color and beauty to downtown.
As 1 understand, this grant request will advance that effort and enable the added beautification
element of banners to be installed year around.
I believe the DBBBP will follow the mission of our organization, to enhance the economic
vitality of Bend.
Best regards,
Tim Casey ' -
Executive Director
Bend Chamber
August 18, 2008
Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
1300 NW Wall Street
Bend, Oregon 97701-1960
Dear Deschutes County Commissioners,
On behalf of Visit Bend and our Board of Directors, I am writing this letter to
communicate our enthusiastic support of the grant application being submitted the
Downtown Bend Business Association (DBBA) for the Downtown Bend Banner
Beautification Program.
Under Chuck Arnold's leadership, the DBBA has had a significant impact on the
continued beautification and enhancement of Bend's downtown district — and their work
is critically important to the ongoing health of Bend's economy.
Downtown Bend is the single most visited "attraction" of the million plus tourists who
visit Bend annually. Our tourism research continues to support the critical importance of
a well-maintained, vibrant and charming downtown district.
Visit Bend has been working closely with the DBBA to continue to make Downtown
Bend remain the center of the community and a healthy contributor to the economics of
the region.
As an organization, Visit Bend is excited about the opportunity for further beautification
of Downtown Bend with a year around banner program and were are extremely confident
in DBBA's ability to leverage the grant dollars to have a significant impact on Bend.
On behalf of Visit Bend, THANK YOU for considering of DBBA's grant request.
All the best,
Doug La Placa
President/CEO
Visit Bend
(541)788-3788