Partners for Better Communities

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VMS Grants Programs

How to Apply Workshop

December 15, 2020 11 a.m. to noon

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Agenda

• What is Main Street?

• Community Vitality & Downtown Investment Grants

Developing an Application Funding Timeline

• Financial Feasibility Study Grant

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DHCD is committed to

creating safe, affordable and

prosperous communities to

live, work and do business in

Virginia.

Partners for Better Communities

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What is Main Street?

• 1970s and 1980s disinvestment in traditional downtowns

• Rise of strip malls, big box stores

• National Trust for Historic Preservation

• Asset-based economic development

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Outcomes of a Main Street Effort

• Sustainable Development • Entrepreneurship • Community pride • Public/private partnerships • Vibrancy • Regional allure • “Sense of Place”

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Introducing Main Street

• No requirements Join email list

Follow social media • Attend trainings

Exploring Main Street

• Noncompetitive Application

• Learn about best practices and connect to a network of peers

Mobilizing Main Street

• Expanding program development and future designation

• Learning laboratory for regions and districts that do not fit current

requirements Advancing Virginia Main Street • Community Designation • Competitive Application Process

• National Main Street Community Accredited

TIER SYSTEM

Formerly Commercial District Affiliate Formerly Virginia Downtowns

Not sure if your town/city is an Exploring Main Street community, visit www.virginiamainstreet.com.

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Exploring Main Street

• Community Vitality Grant (CVG),

formerly the Commercial District Affiliate Grant

• Up to $7,000

• Financial Feasibility Study (FFS) • Up to $25,000

• Available after August 1, 2021

Mobilizing Main Street

• Up to $7,000

Advancing Virginia Main Street

• Downtown Investment Grant (DIG) • Up to $25,000

• Rolling application through October 1, 2021

TIER GRANTS

 Not sure if your town/city is an Exploring Main Street community, visit www.virginiamainstreet.com

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Three VMS Grants

1. Community Vitality Grants (CVG)

2. Downtown Investment Grant (DIG)

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Community Vitality Grant

• Available to active Exploring Main Street and Mobilizing

Main Street communities and organizations.

• Designed to assist communities and organizations in

achieving their downtown revitalization goals.

 Non-profit organization development  _{Market studies}

 Downtown website development  _{Design projects}

 Entrepreneur support programs  _{Wayfinding system development}  Economic vitality projects

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CVG Grant Examples

• Columbia Pike – Banner program

• Cape Charles – Branding

• Crozet – Strategic planning

• Glade Spring – Downtown mural

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Competitive Applications

• Clearly explain how the proposed project or service is an

effective organizational or economic vitality strategy for the commercial district.

• Proposed design projects must directly support existing

identified strategies for improving the district.

• Projects or services that enhance or complement other

DHCD programs.

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CVG Scoring

Relation to organizational

development or revitalization efforts

30%

Impact on Commercial District

_40%

Organizational capacity/readiness

_20%

Realistic work plan for project

_10%

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Application Instructions

Application Questions

1. Provide a description of the project.

2. Describe how the proposed project or service furthers the community’s vision for the commercial district.

3. Describe the intended impact of the project on the commercial district.

4. What are the projected outcomes of the proposed project or service?

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Application Instructions

Supporting Documentation

• Community/organization’s vision statement

• Community/organization’s mission statement

• Local/regional economic development strategies

• List of board members/committee members

• Project work plan and budget

• Mini-resumes of individuals involved in project

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Community Vitality Grant

• Grant applications are due March 16th • Grants are available for up to $7,000

 2:1 match requirement, includes in-kind and

volunteer hours

 Projects must be underway by January 1, 2021  Projects must be complete by May 1, 2022

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Downtown Investment Grant

• Allow local Main Street programs to take on unique, one-time

projects that measurably, creatively, and sustainably advance the

program’s goals and strategies

• Involve multiple downtown partners and require active

leadership participation

• Funds complete projects; provide seed funding for new projects;

or provide gap financing that allows a project to become fully funded

• May not be used for operational expenses, such as payroll, debts,

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Downtown Investment Grant

Eligibility:

• Available to designated Advancing Virginia Main Street

communities

• Administered through the local VMS organization or

municipality

• Applicants must be current on all VMS quarterly reports

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DIG Grant Examples

• Staunton – Collaborative

experiential retail grant program

• Winchester – update wayfinding

signage

• South Boston – Keep Entrepreneurs

Program (KEP)

• Fredericksburg – Zero-interest

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Competitive Applications

• Clearly explain how the how the proposed project will result in measurable economic improvements in the Main Street district

• Support the community’s vision and align with the

mission of the Main Street organization

• Address one or more of the Transformation or “focus”

strategies for the district

• Projects or services that enhance or complement other

DHCD programs.

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Scoring

Relation to organizational mission and vision

_10%

Relation to organizational strategies/goals

_30%

Project impact/outcome

_30%

Organizational capacity/readiness

_20%

Realistic work plan for project

_10%

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Application Instructions

Application Questions

1. Provide a detailed description of the project

2. How and when will the project be accomplished

3. Who will be working on the project

4. How the project furthers the community vision, aligns with the mission, and aligns with Transformation or “focus” strategies, as well as why this is an effective strategy

5. Describe outcomes that are expected, both quantitative and qualitative

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Application Instructions

Required Supporting Documentation

• Community/organization’s vision and mission statement

• List of the current board/committee members

• Strategic Plan/Transformation Strategies

• Project work plan, that includes tasks, responsible individuals, timeline, and costs

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Application Instructions

Supporting Documentation (based on project type)

• Optional: Design Projects – include map of downtown with the

location of the project, along with current photos and project renderings

• Optional: Program Designs – draft documents of proposed

façade program, loan pools

• Optional: Plans/Studies – any recent economic development

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Downtown Investment Grant

• Grant applications are due March 16th • Grants are available for up to $25,000

 2:1 match for all projects

 _{Projects must be underway by January 1, 2021}  Projects must be complete by May 1, 2022

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Financial Feasibility Study Grant

• Identify highest and best use of underutilized or distressed commercial buildings within the Main Street district

• Develop sufficient information for owner to develop the property or the Main Street organization to “shop” the rehabilitation to other private developers and investors

• Generally funds the development of:

 _{Preliminary design reports and renderings}  _{Building code and zone assessments}

 _{Pro forma development and construction estimates}  _{As needed environmental reports}

 _{Market demand studies}  _{Gap-financing research}

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Financial Feasibility Study Grant

• Applications are rolling through October 1, 2021 for Advancing Virginia Main Street communities

 First come, first served and non-competitive

 August 1 – October 1 Exploring and Mobilizing Main

Street communities will be considered

• Grants are available for up to $25,000  _{No match is required}

 Studies must be complete by May 1, 2022  _{Quarterly reporting through CAMS}

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Exploring Main Street

• Up to $7,000

Mobilizing Main Street

• Up to $7,000

Advancing Virginia Main Street

• Downtown Investment Grant (DIG) • Up to $25,000

• Rolling application through October 1, 2021

TIER GRANTS

 All grant awards will be announced by the governor after July 1, 2021.

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Completing Application in CAMS

• Create a Profile:

https://dmz1.dhcd.virginia.gov/camsportal/Registration.aspx

• Locality/Organization must submit

• Assign staff to roles for assistance as needed, don’t share password

• Internet Explorer or Chrome are the recommended browsers

• Save often. Use “Save this” tab before moving to another section

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DHCD Audit Policy

• All grantees that receive funding during a program year are required to submit financial statements to DHCD through CAMS

• https://www.dhcd.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/Docx/audit-policy/dhcd-financial-statement-audit-policy-2019.pdf

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VMS/DHCD Representatives:

Zachary Whitlow Community Revitalization Specialist

VMS | RCDI Southern Region

[email protected] (804) 371-7069

Katherine Miller Community Revitalization Specialist

RCDI

Exploring Main Street

Courtney Mailey Community Revitalization Specialist

VMS | CBL Western Region

Kyle Meyer

Community Revitalization Specialist VMS

Eastern Region

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Questions / Contact:

600 East Main Street, Suite 300 Richmond, VA 23219 dhcd.virginia.gov | virginiamainstreet.com (804) 371-7000 [email protected] Joy Rumley Program Manager (276) 274-3378 [email protected]