Polson Redevelopment Agency funds local projects
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POLSON — Another local property has been restored recently in part due to funds provided by the Polson Redevelopment Agency (PRA).
A home on Second Street East, formerly labelled as “the drug house” due to a drug arrest that occurred there in the past, has been renovated by local city commissioner Tony Isbell. Owner of the business Flathead Designs, Isbell takes rundown houses and makes them livable for families in the area, leading to his purchase of the property.
“It was in terrible shape. Completely unlivable and very run down,” Isbell stated. “We took that house down to the studs. That’s the furthest one that I’ve had to do so far … we had to replace literally everything.”
Fortunately, the project fell within the Tax Increment Funded (TIF) district of Polson, meaning Isbell was eligible for financial assistance in the renovation.
Founded in 2000, the PRA was formed three years after a resolution adopted in 1997 identified and designated four areas in Polson as blighted and called for the creation of an urban renewal plan. Created with the intent to use Tax Increment Funds acquired from a small uptick in local property taxes to resolve blight within a specific district area, early founders of the PRA designated the boundaries to improve both business and residential properties.
“The PRA really went out of their way to make sure everything (on the application) was done correctly, and it was an easy process, a lot easier than I thought it was going to be,” Isbell said. “Going into a place that was in that bad of shape is always worrisome, because you never know what you’re going to find. So having the PRA help us with that made it to where it was not as risky as it would’ve been had we not had that.”
Renovations were completed earlier this year and Karen Dunwell, Chair of the PRA, inspected the property. “It’s beautiful. You wouldn’t even recognize it, it’s so well done,” Dunwell said.
Over the years, the PRA has funded many projects within the district, such as assisting with upgrades to Second Nature on Main Street, as well as the renovations to the Showboat Cinema.
During the $3.8 million renovation to the cinema, the PRA took the initiative to approach the theater’s owners.
“It was brought up that ‘you guys might want to come and talk to us about your project,’” said Gary Dupuis of the Showboat Cinema.
During the expansion, the cinema had purchased additional land between it and the neighboring bank. After construction caused wear and tear to the land, Dupuis said the land needed a decent amount of work. Most of the funds received from the PRA went toward landscaping, updating the sprinkler system, and removing trees in the area to improve curb appeal for Main Street.
“They were really great to work with,” Dupuis said.
Despite the many projects to which the agency has contributed, Dunwell commented there seems to be a lack of local knowledge that the funds are available.
Isbell, for example, stated he only found out about the PRA due to his work as a Polson city commissioner. Once he was made aware of it, he said it sounded like a perfect fit.
The TIF program is set to sunset in 2025, when the funding period will come to an end. At that time, the city will have the opportunity to either let it expire or renew the funds and redraw the TIF district. Discussion of these options has not yet begun. In the years that remain, however, Dunwell said she would like to see an increase in awareness and use of the amassed TIF funds to improve downtown Polson.
“Anything within the TIF district boundaries is eligible to apply for a TIF grant,” she said.
The PRA offers several different types of grants, all of which can be viewed on their website. According to Dunwell, the most common grants are for 50% of the project expenses, or, for larger scale projects that exceed $160,000, a 10% grant. Even people who do not own a property can request TIF funds with the property owner’s permission.
There are limits in the project criteria as to what the TIF grants can fund. Largely, the funding is for exterior work, such as the structure, roofing, siding, and so forth. The parameters are listed in the application guidelines.
Dunwell also offered a word of caution that none of the project work can begin until the application for the work has been completed, agreed upon by the PRA, and forwarded to the city commissioners. Projects already in progress are not eligible for funding.
Once eligible renovations are completed, TIF grant participants must submit their receipts and proof of spending. They will then be sent a check within two weeks from the city.
“If (people) aren’t sure their project would qualify, call and ask. It’s worth a phone call. The application process is not arduous, and there’s help at hand,” Dunwell said.
“If anyone in the TIF district thinking about doing any projects, just get in touch with them because it was so easy,” Isbell said. “If you’re thinking about making something cool, it really takes the risk out of it and it does better the community. (The PRA) is there to make sure that area gets built up to something really special.”
For questions about TIF grant qualifications or how to get started, please call City Manager Ed Meece at 406-833-8207, or go online to https://www.cityofpolson.com/bc-pra.
