In a two-hour meeting, the Dublin Economic Development Corporation met with a positive agenda: to reimburse and give more than $59,000 in grants for community, home and commercial improvements.
The EDC is funded by a portion of sales tax dollars that are spent locally so essentially the grants are putting dollars back into the community.
“I’m so glad that the EDC has been able to give back to the businesses and neighborhoods in a significant way. These grant programs create a rippling effect within our community that benefits Dublin on all levels,” EDC Executive Director Amy Wright said. (Amy is no relation to former executive director Karen Wright).
Home improvement grants A home improvement grant for Chase Timmons at 618 N. Grafton Street was approved.
The total cost of the project was $6,033.59 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
The work included a total exterior remodel with new windows, doors and trim and new paint.
A grant for Sherry Regnier at 411 N. Patrick Street was approved.
The total cost of the project was $10,965 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
The work included painting the house, putting shutters on the home and removing five trees that were damaging the roof and impacting power lines.
A grant for Teresa Marquez at 109 Trowbridge Street was approved.
The total cost of the project was $7,300 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
The work included adding a porch, fence, exterior painting and driveway concrete.
A grant for Shelby and Christina Sharp at 350 N. Patrick Street was approved.
The total cost of the project was $10,810 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
Work on the home included painting exterior brick, painting doors and wrapping and painting the existing columns.
A home improvement grant for Terri Belinda Morgan at 110 East May was approved.
Work on the home included eliminating all grass and replacing it with gravel and finishing landscaping with a pond.
A home improvement grant for Daniel C. Hendrix at 551 Grafton Street was approved.
The total cost of the project was $5,300 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
The work included removing multiple trees, grinding down stumps, removing storage buildings, old carports and old chain link fence and disposing of it all. The home owners also installed new fencing.
A grant was approved for Danny and Nancy Williams at 215 Highland Avenue.
The total cost of the project was $4,700 with the EDC board providing $3,000.
Work included replacing all rotten wood to include rotten exterior beams, window trim, house trim, wood siding, caulking the exterior, replacing broken windows and powerwashing the home.
Commercial grants Two commercial grants were approved for Jimmy Sorrells the owner of The Lucky Find, an antique, vintage and salvage goods store that will open next year located at 121 N. Patrick and 125 N. Patrick.
The total cost of the project is $22,618.92 with each side costing $11,309.46. The EDC provided $5,000 for each side since grant rules state that each 911 address is eligible to apply for a grant if meeting the rest of the qualifications.
The work included removing the back of the building (2,000 sq. ft.), putting up new exterior walls, a ramp and concrete work.
Thompson Custom Meats also received a commercial grant for work on their 111 W. Elm Street location.
The total cost of the project was $26,333.47 with the EDC board providing $5,000.
The work includes windows, tin, concrete, yellow safety poles and handrails for an expansion with extra freezer space.
A commercial grant for Adan Velasco at Velasco Audio was approved for its location at 110 South Patrick Street in downtown.
The total cost of the project was $7,800 with the EDC board providing $5,000.
The work included completing new masonry over the entire front of the building.
A commercial grant for Torbjorn “Mini” Lunquist at Tyreaid was approved for its location at 403 E. Blackjack Street.
The total cost of the project was $7,884.21 with the EDC board providing $5,000.
The work included the replacement of rotten wood, street access door, front yard landscaping and a drainage culvert being rebuilt.
A commercial grant for Miles and Sara Gilman at 211 N. Patrick Street was approved for the CCS Medical building.
The total cost of the project was $6,000 with the EDC board providing $4,500.
Work included masonry work and new paint to refresh the building showcasing green striping and detail work.
Landscape and Historic Home Renovation Grant A landscape and historic home renovation grant was approved for Meladee and Justin Farr at 520 West Black.
The home, which features a unique metal rooster at the corner of the yard that is decorated for holidays, is referenced around Dublin as a home where noteworthy citizen Mary Ann Stephen of the Dublin Rodeo once lived.
The total cost of the project was $12,000 with the EDC board providing $4,000.
The work included clearing of the land and re-fencing the property.
Community improvement grants First Baptist Church of Dublin received a community improvement grant from the EDC for the removal of the former First Christian Church in order to expand the play area for FBC Preschool.
The total cost of the project was $45,000 with the EDC board providing $2,500.
The EDC board also approved several event grants including $1,500 for the Dublin Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Heritage Festival, a $1,878 grant for the Rylan Strong Childhood Cancer Benefit Car Show held Aug. 27 and a $2,500 community improvement new event grant for the Dublin Public Library Back to School Fair July 30.
At future meetings, the EDC board will be examining its grant application guidelines and processes.