GENEVA – Building and business owners met with representatives of the city, LDA Architects and Verdantas LLC on Tuesday evening, Feb. 10, to go over the application and approval processes for a grant-funded revitalization program for downtown Geneva.
Funds for the Downtown Revitalization Grant Program will go toward eligible façade improvements in the downtown business district and will cover 80 percent of approved costs or $24,000, whichever it less. Any remainder is the responsibility of the business or building owner, according to meeting materials.
Funds come from the Appalachian Community Grant Program, which is administered by the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments, a local development district in Ohio under the Appalachian Regional Commission.
City Manager Joseph Varckette thanked the interested parties for coming out Tuesday evening and for bearing with what turned out to be a difficult, complicated, yearslong process of determining what was eligible for grant funding and what would be necessary to apply.
“The most important thing I can do right now is to thank you all for hanging with us,” he said.
Phyllis Dunlap, program administrator for Verdantas LLC and Geneva clerk of council, told the stakeholders that pre-bid packets with the scope of work must be submitted to Steve Jennings of LDA Architects for review.
LDA will help to prepare a work writeup and a cost estimate, then the businessowner must solicit at least three third-party bids for the work, though Dunlap said five is better. Bids must come in within 10 percent of the architect’s estimated project cost.
Dunlap said the city is preparing a contractor list to help applicants connect with firms that are eligible to participate, licensed and insured.
Prior to work getting underway, Dunlap said the Design Review Board may (and likely will) have to review the proposal in the event changes are planned to façade colors, signage, windows, doors or awnings to ensure they comply with regulations.
Dunlap encouraged applicants to work with program administrators at every stage of the process.
“What we don’t want to happen is to miss a step and you don’t get that funding,” she said. “Just make sure you’re using your resources for your project.”
Businessowners will receive the bids, but must not open them until the official bid opening. Dunlap said the contract will be between the businessowner and the contractor, but both parties must sign agreements with the city to comply with program requirements.
The tentative timeline for work is 75 days, according to Dunlap, but that period may have to be shortened to make sure all work is finished and inspected by the program deadline of Wednesday, Sept. 30.
If a change order becomes necessary, Dunlap said Jennings must review and approve it before the contract amount can be changed.
Payment to contractors is made once any punch list items are complete and a two-week final inspection process concludes. Dunlap said it’s her understanding that applicants pay the contractor their share first, then submit proof of payment and final paperwork to the city for review.
After the city signs off on the project, the Eastgate Regional Council of Governments will review the project and issue a check for the grant amount to the contractor.
The Appalachian Community Grant Program is a $500 million plan to fund transformational, generational projects in Ohio’s 32-county Appalachian region.
Administered by the Governor’s Office of Appalachia within the Ohio Department of Development, the program uses federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to revitalize local economies and improve quality of life.
