The Dublin EDC voted to discontinue its home renovation and historical home grants during the regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 25.
The removal of the programs will allow the EDC to dedicate even more funds to assisting businesses and growing the business community although board members were sad to see them go.
The discussion to remove the program came after EDC Executive Director Amy Wright was talking to the EDC director of another town who had never heard of EDC dollars being used for homes. The question was posed to the Texas Economic Development Council, who cited specific ways that the tax dollars collected by EDCs could be used.
The general feeling upon refl ection is that home grants are “too targeted,” although the directors feel that they have helped the town whether in renovating the historic homes that make the town more attractive to businesses and residents considering moving to Dublin or in renovations that assisted home owners facing repairs after the 2015 hail storm.
EDC board members admitted they were unaware that the home grants were not an expressly allowed use of funds with Sammy Moore saying it would be inappropriate to continue the program with the new knowledge.
Wright and EDC board members suspected that the grants started from a place of good intention, but had not found where they officially started as of the meeting. A search through Dublin Citizen archives found that the EDC defined many goals in assisting business owners during the September 2002 meeting. One of the goals was combating a lack of available housing.
In the September 2003 meeting, the EDC budgeted $10,000 for grants to help in creating housing and another $10,000 in renovating housing that could be salvaged. It was felt that a lack of available housing was a “detriment to attracting businesses and industry to Dublin” at that time. The Sept. 25, 2003 Citizen article cited a study which found there needed to be more housing in Dublin and four percent needed to be torn down. It was also reported that 32 percent of school personnel lived outside of town.
The program was expanded in 2006 when a grant was developed specifically for renovating historical homes.
Lanora Davidson felt the program succeeded in its purpose of making the town more attractive, particularly in the character of its wellkept historic homes.
Wright provided a list of business incentives available to Dublin with program examples from other EDCs. “We can help develop things a lot faster,” she said. Programs include façade and interior work, renovation, demolition, downtown revitalization and more.
“We’ll be able to maximize opportunities for the growth of the business community,” Wright said in a phone interview following the meeting.
Board members also noted the improvement of communications was an acceptable use of tax dollars which could benefit Dublin.
Before voting on stopping the home grants, Monte Thiebaud said, “They’ve done a lot of good. I’m comfortable – not glad or happy with where we’re at… I really want us to hold our head high and be proud of what we’ve done.”
The vote to stop the program passed with Thiebaud, Moore and Sarah McCann voting for and Davidson and Tom Gordon voting against. Paul Bradberry and Jeff Weaver were absent.
Board members present unanimously approved a $5,000 building improvement grant to Jeff Timmons for paint and awning/canopy work at Rusty Rose Antiques (113 E. Blackjack). EDC directors praised the business and its offerings and noted that a segment of sidewalk was repaired while work was being done.
Board members also unanimously approved $2,100 for the renewal of the highway sign on the Dublin Loop directing motorists to the Ben Hogan Museum, Dublin Historical Museum and Dublin Rodeo Heritage History Museum. (The cost is $700 per organization.)
The EDC also discussed a proposal of helping the Dublin Band Boosters with funding on the recent Harry Bradberry Marching Classic. Although it was deemed that there wasn’t a grant the event fit into, the board members were appreciative of the event and said it brought many people to town who visited Dublin stores and restaurants.