Dane County Accepting BUILD Grant Applications for Downtown Revitalizations

April 01, 2005
Lesley Sillaman, 267-8823 or 669-5606
County Executive

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk is inviting communities to apply for Better Urban Infill Development (BUILD) planning grants. The BUILD program provides grants to Dane County municipalities for planning that lead to infill development and downtown revitalization. Grant applications must be submitted with a postmark dated not later than May 20. Since the program started in 1999, BUILD has funded 44 planning projects in 18 communities throughout the County. The total amount of grant money is $50,000. The results of BUILD are already making a difference in many communities, by providing new areas for residents to live, work and shop in their downtown areas. Some recent projects include Cannery Square in downtown Sun Prairie, the Shops off Main, a commercial and residential project in downtown Verona, and the new senior housing and retail space going up on Monona Drive at the former Kohl’s site. The Cannery Square project has created a new downtown neighborhood on the site of former industrial sites, with 127 new units, 41,000 square feet of commercial space, and more than $36 million invested in private and public funds. “The bottom line here is these grants work,” said Falk. “They help us build healthy communities and revitalize downtown areas so we don’t have to develop out into our fabulous farmland.” Grants will be awarded to planning efforts that further the objectives of the BUILD program, including making better use of existing infrastructure; locating community services, jobs and shopping in close proximity; stabilizing and enhancing existing neighborhoods, downtowns and other business districts; producing housing and jobs for low to moderate-income people; avoiding converting productive farmland on urban fringes and in rural areas; providing viable options to auto trips by supporting walking, biking, and transit; and having the potential to clean up environmentally contaminated sites. Eligible applicants are local Dane County municipalities. A local match is required. Application guidelines and information about the BUILD program can be obtained on the County’s web site at www.co.dane.wi.us/plandev/commdev/build.htm or by contacting Steve Steinhoff with Dane County Planning and Development at 266-4270 or by email at steinhoff@co.dane.wi.us. # # #