La Grande received 2022 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant
By Shannon Weidemann (McKone) on Friday, May 27th, 2022 in Featured Stories Northeastern Oregon News
LA GRANDE – (Release from La Grande Main Street) La Grande Main Street Downtown, known simply as Main Street, is proud to announce that La Grande is a recipient of the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant for the 3rd cycle in a row. Oregon Heritage, a division of Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, awarded 28 matching grants worth $5,000,000 to Oregon Main Street Network organizations across the state for building projects that encourage economic revitalization. Projects range from façade improvement to basic facilities and housing with awards ranging from $23,850-$200,000.
La Grande’s award will go to the Bohnenkamp Building at 1301 Adams Ave. This project was awarded themaximum $200,000 in order to renovate the building façade, make the building more resilient to natural forces, and renovate the second floor to provide multiple new housing units. Oregon Heritage funded applications that best conveyed the ability to stimulate private investment and local economic development, best fit within the community’s long-range plan for downtown vitality, and community need.
“La Grande Main Street is very excited to see this project be awarded funding. As one of our most prominent historic buildings, the Bohnenkamp Building is full of opportunity to further beautify the district, fully utilize a historic building, and increase housing availability in the downtown core,” said Taylor Scroggins, Executive Director for La Grande Main Street Downtown. “Having already seen the impact this grant can have on the community, like the impact it had in 2019 with the Liberty Theatre and Putnam Building, and in 2017 when awarded to the IOOF Building, we look forward to seeing this project move forward and bring the whole community with it.”
“We are very excited to receive the Downtown Revitalization Grant,” said Mavis Hartz, owner of the Bohnenkamp Building. “We are looking forward to restoring the building to its former glory. This first step will make the building much safer as well as establish three beautiful apartments for rent. We would like to thank everyone involved for the opportunity to increase the vibrancy of Downtown La Grande.”
The grant program was created during the 2015 legislative session, and placed with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office. The legislation established a permanent fund for the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant, and provided an initial infusion of funds from the sale of lottery bonds. The legislature included the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant in the lotterybond package approved in 2021. An additional grant round will occur in 2023. The funds must be used to award grants to participating Oregon Main Street Network organizations to acquire,rehabilitate or construct buildings to facilitate community revitalization. The program also requires that at least 50 percent of the funds go to rural communities as defined in the bill. To learn more about the Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant or the Oregon Main Street Network, visit www.oregonheritage.org or contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.
About La Grande Main Street Downtown
La Grande Main Street Downtown (LGMSD) is part of the National Main Street Program, which is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. LGMSD leverages community assets to generate investment, create jobs, and foster the rehabilitation of downtown areas and Main Streets. LGMSD, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is supported by a Board of Directors and works closely with its members, downtown businesses, and local organizations to strengthen existing business, expand opportunities for new businesses, and plan events and activities to improve the quality of life in downtown La Grande. For more information, visit www.lagrandemainstreet.org.
