Downtown Streetscape Assistance Program

Downtown Bozeman Streetscape Assistance Program

Information & Grant Application

Purpose

The Streetscape Assistance Program provides property owners with reimbursement for the purchase and delivery of historic street lamps in accordance with the Downtown Streetscape Plan. The program is designed to stimulate: private investment; property redevelopment; and the improvement of public areas in the downtown urban renewal district.

Background

The Downtown Urban Renewal District Board is responsible for administering the Downtown Urban Renewal Plan pursuant to Montana Urban Renewal Law (Title 7 Chapter 15 part 42 Montana Code Annotated, “Urban Renewal”). Urban Renewal District (URD) provides a means to finance public urban renewal activities that assist and enhance private development opportunities within the district. The Downtown Urban Renewal District and URD Board were formed in 1995.

Use of Funds

According to Montana statute, Tax Increment Funds can be used for “public projects or the public portion of private projects” including:

The creation or improvement of public spaces, plazas, greenspaces and streetscapes that are part of or adjacent to the proposed development.

The program rewards private entities for making substantial investments in the downtown urban renewal district by helping fund specific prescribed public streetscape improvements associated with development.

Funding Parameters

The Downtown Bozeman Streetscape Assistance Program will reimburse up to 100% of costs of streetlight purchase and delivery upon project completion according to the following parameters:

Streetlamp installation of along Main Street between Broadway and 5^th Avenues will be reimbursed 100% of the purchase and delivery costs of the lamps.
Streetlamp installation along the side streets between Broadway and 5^th Avenues will be reimbursed 100% of the purchase and delivery costs of the lamps.

The cost upon which reimbursement will be calculated may not exceed $3673.00 (base price of $3339 plus a 10% markup allowance).

All assistance awards are contingent upon availability of URD funds and the limitations of Montana statute.

Eligibility Requirements

The project must be in the Downtown Urban Renewal District (aka Downtown URD) with all current property taxes and assessments paid.
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The applicant must be the owner of the property or have controlling interest in the property.

The project must conform to the specifications prescribed in the Downtown Streetscape Improvement Plan.
The applicant must coordinate with the Downtown Bozeman Partnership to connect the streetlamps to a public electric meter, separate from their property.

Application and Decision Process

Applications will be accepted and considered throughout the year. Applications will be processed on a first come first served basis.

The URD staff will provide the following supporting materials:

Preliminary engineering work as completed TD&H Engineering.
Technical specifications regarding the streetlamps and other street hardware components.

Pre-application meetings are encouraged so the URD staff and the applicant can collaborate on finalizing needed information, before a formal application is made.

Once an application is completed, the URD Board will accept or deny the request within 30 days. Accepted applicants will receive notification in writing.

Payment of Award

The accepted applicant must submit a copy of the receipt(s) documenting the purchase and delivery costs associated with the streetlamps. The reimbursement payment will be made to the accepted applicant within 30 days of the URD office receiving receipt documentation.

Term of Agreement

The commitment of funds is effective for 6 months from the date of signature of the development agreement, or the expiration provisions in the MCA urban renewal statutes, whichever comes first. If no work has started during the term of the agreement the funding commitment will be terminated.

DISCLAIMER:

Neither the Downtown Bozeman Partnership LLC, nor the Downtown Urban Renewal District Board, nor its affiliates shall be responsible for the planning, design, or construction of improvements to property that is owned by the applicant. No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied by the description of, application for, award of or participation in the Downtown Streetscape Assistance Program. The applicant is advised to consult with the City of Bozeman, licensed architects, engineers, or building contractors before proceeding with final plans or construction.

Project Location

Building Name

Building Address

Number of Streetlamps Proposed

Anticipated Project Completion Date

Applicant Information

Name

Company Name

Address

Phone

Additional application materials needed, please upload as one PDF document.

Project Description- Application must include written description specifying the type and scale of the proposed streetscape improvements and a brief description of the entire project (not to exceed 1 typed page).
Site Plan, Renderings and Elevations- Application must include a site plan detailing the streetscape improvements (required) and an elevation rendering showing the streetscape elements (if available).
Total Project Cost Estimates- Application must include the total streetscape improvement cost estimate specifically itemizing the anticipated costs of purchasing, delivering and install the streetlamps.
Contact Information- Application must include full contact information for the project manager, architect, and engineer.

Application Documents

Please submit additional materials as one document.

Signature

Type Name

Additional Comments

The Downtown Bozeman Partnership reserves the right to request additional information from the applicant to determine grant eligibility. Applicants are required to submit a complete application and all supporting materials per the instructions in this packet. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.