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HomeMy WebLinkAboutARPA Funding Application Proposal American Rescue Plan Act Funding Proposal Details Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District The Downtown Oshkosh BID is requesting $300,000 in ARPA funds from the City of Oshkosh to be used to grow and expand the organization to further serve the community. These additional funds will be used as seed money over the course of three years to create a nonprofit organization and add an additional staff member. The BID will use the three years to create a nonprofit organization and will establish multiple funding sources to maintain staff and operations. The Downtown BID was established in 1987 and has been increasing the amount of events and projects downtown ever since. The BID was originally operated by a volunteer Board and as it grew and increased activities, the BID contracted with the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce to manage and support operations of the BID and Downtown Oshkosh. After the Common Council adopted the Downtown Action Plan and prior to the reconstruction of N. Main Street, BID hired its first official BID Manager and has continued to grow and increase services but has not added staff. In 2020 the BID moved to the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau office and has received additional support, but the organization is now at a point where there is a desire to offer more to the community and assist businesses, especially following the Covid-19 Pandemic; however, there is not enough capacity to do so. Downtown represents 0.4% of the City’s geographical land area and although it has a small footprint, it has a big impact on the economic output of the community representing 5-8% of businesses, retailers and restaurants. Downtown is especially strong in its contributions to the visitor market, representing 25% of all hotel rooms in the City. The Downtown BID has played a significant role in the economic growth and vitality of Downtown Oshkosh; however, Covid has had a serious impact on the downtown area. With over 30,000 employed in the City of Oshkosh, only 3.6% of those people work downtown. Despite the number of small businesses that call the district home, daytime employment is below average limiting the customer base downtown. The district has lost large employers such as Silver Star Brands (100+ employees), Eastbay, DealerSocket and many employees of larger offices such as 4Imprint are now working remotely. Downtown businesses have not only lost the foot traffic from large employers but have also been severely strained from increasing prices, supply chain issues and more due to the lingering effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Over 15 downtown businesses have closed their doors since the start of the pandemic. We do, however, have many large-scale economic opportunities coming to the downtown area from a proposed new boutique hotel and significant rebranding and renovation of our current downtown hotel to a brand new medical facility right in the heart of the City. We would like to be able to grow the organization to continue to positively impact the businesses that call Downtown Oshkosh home and include geographic areas beyond the existing Business Improvement District. Although there are other organizations in Oshkosh that hold events and support economic development, there are not any that are specific to downtown recruitment and retention and the activation and programming of downtown spaces. The new downtown organization would continue to work with partners such as the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau, City of Oshkosh, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce, Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation and the JEK Foundation. The downtown organization’s office will continue to be at the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau and the OCVB will continue to be a critical partner in the formation of the new organization. The requested ARPA funds will be used to form a new nonprofit that will oversee the management of the BID Operating Plan and Budget and the growth of downtown programming and activation. There will be costs associated with establishing this new nonprofit including legal fees, strategic planning, branding and more. The funds will also be used to support the creation of a second position that can assist in getting the nonprofit established and assisting downtown businesses. There will be many that will benefit from the creation of the new organization: current BID members, those who own businesses that are downtown but lie beyond the district, Oshkosh residents and visitors of Oshkosh. A thriving downtown serves the entire community and those who visit it. With a goal of creating more activity downtown, we will increase the vibrancy of the downtown area increasing foot traffic and dollars spent at local businesses and will better the experience of those who visit Oshkosh. The BID is focused on increasing activity downtown, improving beautification throughout the district and providing benefits to its members. Achievements over the course of the past three years include: • Fundraised over $25,000 for all new lights and décor for Opera House Square for the holidays • Created Pilot Program with the City for utility box wraps and fundraised for the execution of the project ($7,000+) • Created a Flower Pilot Program with the City to allow for flower pots of up to 15” outside of storefronts to improve downtown curb appeal • Created Flower Pot & Blade Sign Grant Program to encourage businesses to improve curb appeal and create a more inviting atmosphere for visitors/shoppers • Fundraised $75,000 for murals in 2021-2023 • Received Vibrant Spaces Grant ($30,845) and fundraised for 50% match • Fundraised $30,000 for new seasonal pole banners • Created the Oshkosh C.A.R.E. Team with COTS Oshkosh and Riverview Gardens for Downtown Cleanup Program • Established the Downtown Outdoor Refreshment Area allowing open containers during certain hours downtown so residents and visitors stay longer and explore downtown • Sold out every Wine Walk and Chocolate Stroll the organization has hosted since 2021 • Chalk Walk had record number of community votes each year from 2021-2023 • Started contract with US Department of Wildlife Services for Seagull Mitigation – free service for property owners that helps decrease seagulls on property owners’ roofs resulting in significant decrease in gulls • Created partnership with City of Oshkosh/CVB/OACF/JEK Foundation for City Horticulturist position – a benefit to the City of Oshkosh and additional staff person for the Parks Department Two goals of the new organization include engaging more than 50% of members in at least one event or activity downtown and 250 days of activity downtown per year – a recommendation by Roger Brooks, a destination assessment consultant that visited Oshkosh in 2021. Generating more activity consistently downtown will draw not only visitors but also residents of Oshkosh to the downtown area. According to Roger Brooks, “if locals aren’t hanging out in your downtown, neither will visitors, and where people spend time, consistently, retailers will follow.” If we are not able to receive ARPA grant funding to grow the organization, we will still continue to fulfil our mission of assisting downtown business owners and coordinating their marketing, promotion, property management, revitalization and retention program efforts; however, we will not be able to provide the type of services and impact that we would like to. 2024 BID Operating Budget BID 2024 Budget Expenses Sponsorships/Income Leadership Employment/Benefits $ 72,000.00 Office Supplies/Technology $ 5,000.00 Training $ 1,000.00 Recruitment & Beautification Grants $ 20,000.00 Events Waterfest $ 2,500.00 Music Programming $ 15,000.00 $ 10,000.00 Wine Walks $ 10,000.00 $ 25,000.00 Holiday $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Farmers Market $ 5,000.00 Chalk Walk $ 4,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Downtown Events $ 2,500.00 Advertising $ 15,000.00 Gift Card Program $ 1,000.00 Vibrant Spaces Grant $ 30,845.00 $ 30,845.00 MemberCO Chocolate Stroll $ 500.00 $ 5,500.00 Spring $ 1,000.00 $ 3,500.00 Holiday $ 500.00 Arts & Beautification Maintenance $ 10,000.00 Holiday/Seasonal Planting $ 20,000.00 Seagull Mitigation Project $ 3,000.00 Storage Unit $ 1,610.00 2024 BID Assessment $ 140,610.00 TOTAL $ 235,455.00 $ 235,455.00 2024 Downtown Oshkosh Budget with ARPA Funding BID 2024 Budget (with ARPA) Expenses Sponsorships/Income Leadership Employment/Benefits $ 140,000.00 Strategic Planning/Nonprofit $ 12,000.00 Office Supplies/Technology $ 5,000.00 Training $ 1,000.00 Recruitment & Beautification Grants $ 20,000.00 Events Waterfest $ 2,500.00 Music Programming $ 15,000.00 $ 10,000.00 Wine Walks $ 10,000.00 $ 25,000.00 Holiday $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Farmers Market $ 5,000.00 Chalk Walk $ 4,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Downtown Events $ 2,500.00 Branding/Advertising $ 20,000.00 Gift Card Program $ 1,000.00 Vibrant Spaces Grant $ 30,845.00 $ 30,845.00 MemberCO Chocolate Stroll $ 500.00 $ 5,500.00 Spring $ 1,000.00 $ 3,500.00 Holiday $ 500.00 Arts & Beautification Maintenance $ 25,000.00 Holiday/Seasonal Planting $ 20,000.00 Seagull Mitigation Project $ 3,000.00 Storage Unit $ 1,610.00 ARPA Funding (Annual) $ 100,000.00 2024 BID Assessment $ 140,610.00 TOTAL $ 335,455.00 $ 335,455.00 In 2024, the BID will bring in $94,845 in sponsorships and event income. Additionally, the BID will assess itself at $140,610 – the same as 2023. In addition to the 2023 assessment, the BID expects to raise approximately $100,000 in additional funds through event sponsorships, event income, sponsorships and donations. Annual expenses include staff, recruitment and retention grant programs, events, advertising, arts and beautification, committee expenses, etc. If the BID were to receive the ARPA funding, there would be an increase in expenditures of leadership (staffing and strategic planning) totaling $80,000. We would also increase the advertising budget by $5,000 to increase brand awareness of the organizational changes as well as increase the Arts & Beautification budget by $15,000 as the BID has typically supplemented this line item using reserve funds earned from event income over the past few years. BID 2027 Budget (Example) BID 2027 Budget (Example) Expenses Sponsorships/Income Leadership Employment/Benefits $ 140,000.00 Reserves $ 5,000.00 Office Supplies/Technology $ 5,000.00 Training $ 1,000.00 Recruitment & Beautification Grants $ 20,000.00 Events Waterfest $ 2,500.00 Music Programming $ 15,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Wine Walks $ 10,000.00 $ 35,000.00 Holiday $ 15,000.00 $ 25,000.00 Night Markets $ 5,000.00 $ 20,000.00 Winter Event/Programming $ 5,000.00 $ 20,000.00 Farmers Market $ 5,000.00 Chalk Walk $ 4,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Chocolate Stroll $ 500.00 $ 5,500.00 Fundraiser Dinner $ 5,000.00 $ 15,000.00 Shopping/Retail Walks $ 5,000.00 $ 10,000.00 Branding/Advertising $ 20,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Gift Card Program $ 1,000.00 Vibrant Spaces Grant $ 30,845.00 $ 30,845.00 Arts & Beautification Maintenance $ 25,000.00 Holiday/Seasonal Planting $ 20,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Seagull Mitigation Project $ 3,000.00 Storage Unit $ 1,610.00 Downtown Sponsors $ 50,000.00 Grants $ 5,000.00 2027 BID Assessment $ 140,610.00 TOTAL $ 344,455.00 $ 386,955.00 Revenue $ 42,500.00 Above is an example of how we would begin to take on more events and sponsorships to start bringing in income for the organization. We don’t know for certain the direction event planning and the new staff person would take the BID, but it is likely that most of our income will be made off events and programming. As you can see above, there is an increase in income for some of our current events. This is expected given we will have a staff person dedicated to finding event sponsorships. Five more event categories have been added to the list – most will be programming meaning the event will occur multiple times throughout the year. Our biggest income generators tend to be the “walk” style events such as our Wine Walks and the Chocolate Stroll, so we will hope to add a few more of those to the calendar for the year as well. We will likely also do a downtown directory for visitors that will include advertising opportunities for downtown businesses helping offset some of the advertising costs. We also expect that there will be some general downtown sponsorships and grants available to the organization that the BID has not formerly been able to accept or apply for. We expect that in year one the additional staff person will learn and improve upon current events and the organization will start to take on new events in years two and three.