Stoughton Awarded Dane County BUILD Grant to Revitalize Downtown

June 23, 2008
Joshua Wescott (608) 267-8823 Pamela Andros (608) 261-9780
County Executive

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today announced the 2008 recipients of Dane County BUILD grants. The City of Stoughton is being awarded $25,000 for its work on the Stoughton Rail Corridor Neighborhood Plan. The project is aimed at revitalizing Stoughton’s downtown with mixed-use development. The grant will help create redevelopment concepts including location, type, and size; calculations of anticipated commercial, residential and community space; and cost estimates of public improvements. The Stoughton grant was one of four Dane County Better Urban Infill Land Development (BUILD) grants announced today by Falk. The others are in the City of Middleton, the Village of Belleville, and the Village of Cross Plains. Falk created the BUILD program in 1999 to support local governments with efforts to revitalize their downtowns. Since its creation, 61 BUILD grants worth over $955,000 have been awarded to Dane County communities. These grants provide a way for communities to take the next step in their plans to revitalize and promote infill development. Each project is unique in its approach to achieving these goals, and community support is absolutely essential for success. Other BUILD grants announced today include: City of Middleton $24,000: The City of Middleton is being awarded $24,000 in county funding to facilitate redevelopment in the University Avenue Corridor. The corridor is highly visible and heavily traveled with a mix of business and residential uses both in and adjacent to the corridor. Business vacancies, and mobility issues such as barriers to pedestrian movement, are of growing concern. Funds will be used for a strong redevelopment plan that will address these issues as well as enhance economic development opportunities. The City will work with residents and business owners to facilitate a plan that will encourage revitalization and the use of alternate modes of transportation. Village of Belleville $7,500: Downtown Revitalization Implementation – working toward implementation Belleville’s Downtown Revitalization Plan, activities will include updating ordinances regarding design standards for facades, historic preservation and signage; and establishing downtown design standards and guidelines for a Village façade improvement program. Village of Cross Plains $4,900: Downtown Revitalization Plan Implementation – working toward implementation of downtown revitalization, project activities include development of design standards for two downtown districts, structural analysis of a prominent historic building, storm water management design, and a parking study. ###