NO. 04
O N THE
COVER
Welcome to The Local Downtown Newsletter. We hope you find this magazine informative and fun. If you are local we hope this finds a place on your coffee table and makes you proud of your community as well as inspires you. The Local Downtown Newsletter is our attempt to capture the lifestyle of downtown living as well as capture the essence of what makes our area so special. This is our attempt to keep everyone in the downtown loop and apprised of all Main Street’s happenings. Between our covers you will find all your downtown news, activities, events, projects, businesses and more. Your advertising enables us to bring these to print so if you’re interested in advertising, please let us know.
B OAR D OF
DIRECTORS Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. Board of Directors 2020 Ryan Buskirk, President Rusty Ingley, Past President Andy Oguntola, Vice President Kristie Reed, Treasurer Leigh Ann Lightsey Wynn, Secretary Larry Bossarte Ellis Hunt Caroline Jahna Margie Sikes Joshua Watson Karen Thompson, Executive Director
2 •••
LAKE WALES MAIN STREET
Downtown has an exciting future ahead. We have many opportunities for YOU to be involved and to invest in your downtown. Part of the Main Street philosophy is that downtown belongs to the entire community. Everyone has a stake and a role to play in the revitalization of their downtown. Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization involving the entire community where the objective is to improve the image of downtown by facilitating change and growth. Please give us a call for more information how you can get involved and help!
Executive Director, Lake Wales Main Street Assistant Director CRA, City of Lake Wales
Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. 278 East Stuart Ave. Lake Wales, FL 33853 863-259-1503 karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com
FIND US ON
A LETTER F ROM THE
DIRECTOR “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy LOCAL and that’s kind of the same thing.”
Never has there been a better time… to live in picturesque Lake Wales - one of the most beautiful areas of Florida with a downtown core which, once revitalized, will be a scene of quaint shopping, great dining, frequent music, unique events and most importantly people. A downtown that you could walk, bike, or drive there easily. But to get there the journey requires a team effort and a commitment from each and every one of us. Before tasking us/you with responsibilities, let’s first look at today and
the COVID-19 bubble. If there is a silver lining to COVID-19, (and I believe there is always a silver lining) it is our awareness of the interrelationship and the interdependency between us and our local independent businesses – the core of the American dream and economic apple. It is a renewed appreciation of the independent business owner who has battled other quiet warfare against advancing malls, suburban sprawl, big-box super stores, and the internet; and who currently is feeling the harshest blow from COVID-19. Once the COVID-19 bubble has burst, we can again relish in what we miss most as a community - talking, laughing, eating out, playing and shopping (our nation’s greatest hobby).
POST COVID-19 JOURNEY, WHAT CANYOU DO... Take a stroll downtown: discover the old, the new and the possibilities. Meet your downtown neighbors who have invested their life, dreams, and resources into their business. Take Ownership. It’s us – it’s you and me – that owe downtown businesses our patronage. Commit to the 3/50 Project (see page 6). Support Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. whose mission of downtown revitalization is as authentic and American as apple pie. It embodies ideals that small businesses and the nation have long stood for. Lake Wales Main Street is the champion and the steward of quality of life for the entire community. We will get through this, TOGETHER. Stay safe and see you SOON, in downtown! Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. 278 East Stuart Ave. I Lake Wales, FL 33853 I 863.259.1503 karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com ISSUE NO. 4: 2020
••• 3
L A K E
W A L E S
INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOOD-RELATED SERVICES
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND APPLICATION CONTACT:
Karen Thompson Assistant CRA Director City of Lake Wales, CRA 863-259-1503
THE
PROGRAM The Food-Related Services Incentive Program offers up to $50,000 in dollar-fordollar matching funds to assist in establishing foodrelated businesses in the NW Redevelopment Area and Downtown Main Street District. Matching funds are a grant that can be used to offset the cost of eligible leasehold improvements necessary to establish and operate a food service or restaurant business. 4 •••
LAKE WALES MAIN STREET
APPLICATION 1 A completed and 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
signed application Notarized letter from property owner Food-related service resume(s) Conceptual business plan Proposed site plan Project Schedule Three (3) cost estimates All the above documentation must be submitted as one complete packet
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 1. Eligible businesses are food-
related ventures such as sit-down restaurants, coffee/tea shops, bakeries, commissary kitchens, mobile food establishments, grocery stores, produce markets, micro-breweries, distilleries, health food stores and other specialty food stores. 2. All properties within the NW CRA and Downtown Main Street District are eligible. 3. Drive through facilities, convenience stores with motor vehicle fuel sales, bars, lounges and related entertainment uses are not eligible for the foodrelated services incentive. 4. Governmental entities and notfor-profit entities are not eligible, with exception for those paying property taxes. 5. Grants are intended for rehabilitation and restoration of existing properties only. 6. Property must pay all taxes
ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS The City of Lake Wales Food-Related Services Incentive Program is for leasehold improvements to an existing property in order to make it functional for a food-service business. Funds may not be used for normal maintenance or repair. Specific improvements for which grant funds may be used include, but are not limited to: Electrical/ Plumbing upgrades Installation of attached fixtures Grease traps Utility connections Venting systems Sprinkler systems Solid Waste and recycling management
Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing engineering services (not to exceed 20% of the grant total) Monitoring man-hole system installation
The following items are specifically ineligible for the program: Equipment (not attached/affixed to building/ structure) Furniture Interior design fees New construction is ineligible. Improvements must be consistent with the City of Lake Wales Land Development Regulations and Engineering Standards. Any improvements visible to the exterior in CRA must comply with the CRA Commercial Corridor Design Guidelines. Grant funds may not be used to correct code violations or to bring structures up to code. As a condition of approval, the Applicant will agree that improvements made using these funds will stay in place a minimum of five (5) years. If improvements are replaced within five (5) years of construction completion, the grant recipient must pay a pro rata portion of the grant proceeds invested in the project for the number of months remaining. Applicant is responsible for obtaining or having obtained all required local and state approvals and permitting for work undertaken. Once a maximum grant for any property has been awarded, businesses occupying that property or the building owner cannot reapply for another grant for the same location for a five (5) year period. Applicant agrees to allow the LWCRA to photograph the project for use in future publications.
PROCESS
Qualified applicants must schedule an appointment with the LWCRA staff prior to preparing an application for submittal. The City of Lake Wales (CRA) office is located at 201 West Central Ave., Lake Wales, Fl 33853. Appointments may be made by calling (863) 259-1503. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and grants will be awarded on a first-come, firstserved basis. CRA staff will review the application for completeness. A post-application submittal conference will be held with the Applicant to discuss any deficiencies or issues with the application. At this time, the CRA may request that the Applicant provide additional information. CRA staff will review the completed application against the review criteria. The reimbursement payment will be awarded in one payment after proof of building permits and Certificate of Occupancy.
*Once reimbursement check has been issued, no further documents will be considered as the process has since closed. All documentation necessary for disbursement of funds must be provided to the CRA within thirty (30) days of issuance of occupancy certificate.
Selection Criteria CRA staff will review completed applications against review criteria and will state his/ her findings in a recommendation to the applicant. Applications that score below 60 points will be recommended for denial. Applicants that are denied for this program may appeal their request to the CRA Board at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The CRA Board will determine by super majority vote that an appealed application is approved or denied without conditions. The applicant will be notified in writing of the Board’s decision within five (5) business days of the Board meeting. Applicants are advised that grant funds are provided at the sole discretion of the CRA Board and the findings stated in the recommendation do not create an entitlement to funding. *Please refer to Exhibit C for scoring criteria.
ISSUE NO. 4: 2020
••• 5
Save your local economy...
vthe
three stores at a time.
3/50
projectb ®
saving the brick and mortars our nation is built on
3 50
Think about which three independently owned businesses you’d miss most if they were gone. Stop in and say hello. Pick up a little something that will make someone smile. Your contribution is what keeps those businesses around.
68 1
For every $100 spent in independently owned stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that in a national chain, only $43 stays here. Spend it online and nothing comes home.
If just half the employed U.S. population spent $50 each month in independently owned businesses, their purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue.* Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 of the employed population did that.
oi
The number of people it takes to start the trend trend...you.
[
Pick 3. Spend 50. Save your local economy. Visit the350project.net
© ® Cinda Baxter 2010; all rights reserved. Proudly supporting RetailSpeaks and independent retailers everywhere. * Employment statistics courtesy U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2/6/2009; 68/43 courtesy Civic Economics study, 2008.
© *E
BEN·E·FAC·TOR /benə,faktər/
noun A person or organization who confers a benefit; kindly helper. One who gives aid, especially financial aid.
Lake Wales Main Street is very fortunate to have 9 fantastic organizations committed to Main Street and recognize the success of downtown has an impact on the community as a whole.
OUR BENEFACTORS
GEORGE&ERICA
O’NEILL
The Benefactor Program helped fund the downtown design strategy and will provide the opportunity to consider large scale projects which will make a noticeable impact for downtown Lake Wales.
As a Benefactor your company will be recognized as a leader and applauded for the role you play in supporting the community. Your return on investment is found in the marketing opportunities but perhaps the biggest return is a vibrant downtown serving as the economic engine for the entire community.
We hope your company will seriously consider becoming a Lake Wales Main Street Benefactor.
If you’re contemplating this investment please contact Karen Thompson Karenlwmainstreet@outlook.com for more information!
DOWNTOWN MATTERS! It’s what we do every day at Lake Wales Main Street, Inc., transforming downtown Lake Wales into a vibrant and thriving destination. But we can’t do it without YOU. You don’t need to work or live in downtown to invest in your downtown, you just need to love your downtown. We need your energy and support to make your downtown a destination for the entire community to gather and socialize. The future of downtown Lake Wales is exciting. Please join us in paving the way for a bright and prosperous tomorrow. Why Downtown Matters: It strengthens the connection between people.
“A successful city is like a fabulous party, people stay because they are having a great time.” A M A N D A
INVESTMENT
B U R D E N
LEVELS
$2500 Benefactor
$250 Business
$1000 Corporate
$100 Individual
PO BOX 4125 I LAKE WALES I FLORIDA I 33859
Learn more at LWMAINSTREET.COM I 863.259.1503
ISSUE NO. 4: 2020
••• 9
Main Street is excited to present
es l a w downtown lake
FREE
25
$
stayF Otuned R
craft brews Farm to Table tastings
rescheduled date
shopping
5:00-9:00 pm
local wines
sponsors
market place after party!
Live band grove roots craft beer and dancing
PROGRESS ON PARK AVENUE Important work is continuing in Lake Wales, including forward progress on a redevelopment plan for the historic downtown business district and the northwest section of the city. And city officials are pledging that one of the pillars of the redevelopment process – public participation – will continue to play a key role moving ahead despite the current Coronavirus outbreak. Design work for a makeover of Park Avenue has already started, based on a report produced for the city by the nationally renowned design firm of Dover-Kohl. City officials indicated that actual construction bids would likely go out in the summer of 2021. But before that happens, city residents and business owners will get a chance to weigh in on the plan. Officials just aren’t quite sure in what form that will take – since all city meetings for the foreseeable future are being conducted as online “virtual” meetings – but the pledge to keep it as an integral part of the process has been made. “We’re looking for ways to get public input, they way the actual design was born. But we don’t want to stop progress. We don’t want to hold everything up,” said City Manager Ken Fields, who also doubles as the Executive Director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency which is overseeing the project. “We want to make sure while the engineers and designers are working in the
background right now that when the time comes to present something to the public we’re going to have ways for reaction to whatever we come up with.” He said a significant portion of the work to redo Park Avenue could get funding help from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. “The good news is because we’re doing a major street reconstruction, we may be eligible for stormwater money from the water management district, and that could be a major portion of the cost,” he explained. “They have grant money available for that kind of work and our consultants have succeeded in doing that in other cities, so some of the costs might very well be off set by grants. It’s not glamorous, but its something that has
to be done when you’re rebuilding the street.” At the same time, students in a master architect class headed by Victor Dover is focusing on exciting projects for the Northwest Redevelopment Area. A presentation on their visions is expected later this spring. Those ideas would be more advanced than what was contained in Dover Kohl’s original plan, but would still need to be professionally designed and engineered. “We could be getting ready to do another Request for Proposals for design to do the actual engineering work in that area too,” Fields added. “So it’s not far behind the Park Avenue project in that respect.” CRA Assistant Executive Director Karen Thompson, who is also the executive director for Lake Wales Main Street , said work continues with that group as well. “Main Street is mobilized, planning events and prepared to keep the downtown merchants and community updated every step of the way,” she said. ISSUE NO. 4: 2020
••• 11
A MESSAGE F ROM OUR
PRESIDENT We’ve all had the rug swept out from under us. In hard times, it’s our instinct to gather around each other, lift one another up and offer help to get back on track. However, when you can’t physically gather together for any purpose it can be quite a disheartening feeling. As a result of this national pandemic, without a doubt, I personally place a much higher value on being able to gather with friends, family, neighbors & colleagues. I can’t
envision a better place for gathering than in our Historic Downtown. Although our economy is essentially is shut down right now, our vision, our downtown design plan, Lake Wales Connected, is far from being set aside. In fact, it’s more important than ever. Lake Wales Main Street is committed to the revitalization of our downtown. Why? So
that it can be the ultimate gathering place! We want everyone to feel welcome to shop, eat, socialize, relax and have a great time savoring the ability to gather again.
President, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc.
COMI NG S OON!
1 2 •••
LAKE WALES MAIN STREET
COVID-19 FUNDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
TOOL KIT
Here are numerous resources to assist small businesses in our community. The resources below are also available on floridaleagueofcities.com.
· SBA Press Release: Automatic Deferment on Existing SBA Disaster Loans Through End of 2020: www.sba.gov/about-sba/sba-newsroom/press-releases-media-advisories/carranza-implements-automatic-defermentexisting-sba-disaster-loans-through-end-2020 · Florida Public Assistance Information: floridapa.org · Florida Public Assistance Forms: floridapa.org/site/forms.cfm · FEMA Assistance Guide: www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/covid-resources/covid19-fema-assistance-guide. pdf?sfvrsn=b04ed5d5_0 · DEO Business Recovery Center: floridajobs.org/rebuildflorida/businessrecovery · Rebuild Florida Infrastructure Repair Program: floridajobs.org/community-planning-and-development/assistance-for-governments-and-organizations/disaster-recoveryinitiative/hurricane-irma/irma-infrastructure-repair-program · Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program: covid19.floridajobs.org · Business Damage Assessment Survey: floridadisaster.biz/BusinessDamageAssessments · SBA Disaster Assistance in Response to the Coronavirus: www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19 · SBA Small Business Guidance and Loan Resources: www.sba.gov/page/coronavirus-covid-19-small-business-guidance-loan-resources · SBA Working Capital Loans Fact Sheet: www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/covid-resources/sba-assistance-fact-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=814ed5d5_0 · USDA Rural Development Resources: www.rd.usda.gov/sites/default/files/USDA_RD_SA_COVID19_ProgramImmediateActions.pdf · Paycheck Protection Program FAQs for Small Businesses: www.floridaleagueofcities.com/docs/default-source/covid-resources/paycheck-protection-program-faqs-for-smallbusinesses-final.pdf?sfvrsn=f66cd5d5_0 · List of Florida Lenders: http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001l7JFQBnF9q-_zfSBwh9_dzeEp6V3Y0Z9AzYpVs0S55BNaDkvnqrfdY4W0uPbDMAPVAYNFRFi3XAld8cyn-LNamAtFZyxkTl4HQRtCilP1bV5DCSBJur-RuMMGwjei8MtZgBCK4O1EvselNI2AUxNnLR WkCdoGQZOVocrpa89y16bNWkQxH3mMNRz3xR2KxqqprxNzpIQHpcSApLmHQ_rl6kNpyL0-5cKFRkMs5GRveBppmp8uLsfI6 ey0t7txOuGSYaFZvDbR_0wilDwZQK2qD1MrXIAywrYJxGrGHrK0fuGhdcT6fB7A==&c=cmoDD5bMQZwrg0WT2QFBljYh3Xh ESHoMPnaQyf6I34v7VYB7bzQxRQ==&ch=qcKk181NgkJfkL75moPfFqZoYF8gMvEnmCrFqoJ5AQivqn64QRFeZw==
ISSUE NO. 4: 2020
••• 13
AFTER L A K E W A L E S M A I N S T R E E T, I N C .
FACADE G R A N T P ROG R AM SPONSORED BY
In the true spirit of community, Lake Wales Main Street, Inc. is launching the Duke Energy Facade Grant Program that provides a 50/50 match to eligible downtown business and property owners for the completion of facade
improvements. The purpose is to enhance and restore the physical condition or appearance of the building. Special emphasis will be given to the restoration of historic architectural features.
Facade Grant applications are NOW available. To learn more contact Ronni Wood 863.259.1503 I ronnilwmainstreet@outlook.com
1 4 •••
LAKE WALES MAIN STREET
T HA N K YO U ! LAKE WALES MAI N STREET, I NC. BENEFACTORS
GEORGE&ERICA
O’NEILL
W H Y S UP P O R T D OW N T OW N ? IMPROVED
IMAGE! INCREASED
BUSINESS
HEALTHY ECONOMY
HISTORICAL AWARENESS!
preservation of architecture and human history!
Attract and retain employees!
ENHANCED
MARKET PLACE! (shopping locally)
SENSE OF
PRIDE in downtown
SOCIAL/CULTURAL
ACTIVITIES!
Sense of hometown community! Tax dollars stay in the community!
HOME VALUES increase!
Opportunity to participate/ volunteer!
Quality of BUSINESS!
IN SUMMARY, THERE ARE PLENTY OF REASONS TO BECOME A BENEFACTOR, YET THEY ALL COME DOWN TO ONE:
QUALITY OF LIFE!