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EDA still fine-tuning its grant process Date published: 3/21/2009
BY EMILY BATTLE
This summer, J. Brian's Tap Room plans to open an outdoor entertainment area behind its Hanover Street bar and restaurant. The "backyard," as they're calling it, will have a stage, and the goal is to add a little music to downtown. J. Brian's co-owner Jack Hyland said he hopes people strolling around near the bar will hear tunes slipping out from behind the building and enter to find good music, good beer and a well-behaved crowd. Hyland's is one of the most recent projects helped along by a grant from Fredericksburg's Economic Development Authority. Last fall, the EDA voted to award the project a total of $50,000 in grants, over two fiscal years. Half of that money will go toward spiffing up two alleyways that lead to the backyard area from Caroline and Hanover streets with wrought-iron gates and brick walkways. J. Brian's The other half of the money will help pay for a stage for musical acts. Hyland said the EDA's support was key to getting other investors to commit to the project, estimated to cost more than $250,000. "As soon as that happened, they all said, if the city is willing to support it, let's go with it," he said. The EDA has been able to help several projects like this get off the ground with small grants from the money it collects in fees off low-interest revenue bonds the state allows it to issue on behalf of city developers. The $50,000 it has granted to J.Brian's, and another $50,000 it recently committed to help the Surgi-Center of Central Virginia move from Stafford County into the city, are among the larger grants it has made. More common are grants of $10,000 or less, which have helped businesses like the Griffin Bookshop and nonprofits like the Fredericksburg Center for Creative arts make improvements to properties that are a visible part of major city thoroughfares--in these cases, downtown. TIED TO JUMPSTART Fredericksburg's EDA grant program is still evolving, but it started in 2005, after the EDA paid $170,000 for the JumpStart study, which recommended redevelopment options for specific city corridors. The EDA then began making small grants to help property owners spruce up those corridors.
Read more stories about Fredericksburg Date published: 3/21/2009
The EDA members are appointed by the Council but they are an independent entity. As the article states, the City cannot tell the EDA how to spend their money... because it is not City money. Therefore, your complaint that the City wastes money buying Wing on the Water and then gives it away to others is based on a false premise.
That is a bad area at night, and you have to keep looking over your shoulder. Will any Council-members even hang out there? Crosswalks need to be painted around the City, and safety improved to encourage more walking to save gas. If the Council is pushing beer/alcohol down our throats, then cops need to look the other way when we drivers are DWI downtown.
So the city evicts Wings On The Water and then buys the property which they aren't going to do anything with for 4 years. HUGE WASTE OF MONEY! And now they are going to give money to other bars doing the same thing?!? Sounds like the council frequents these establishments and not others and are now playing favorites. How about spend the money where it is needed. Put benches up at bus stops, build the "park", give to the homeless shelter, something besides using it for favoritism!!!
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