With the Pendleton Development Commission in the process of obtaining a $3.5 million line of credit for new projects, two organizations are already stepping forward for a piece of the pie.
At a commission meeting Tuesday, members will hear funding requests from the Pendleton Veterinary Clinic and the Pendleton Downtown Association.
In a staff report to the commission, associate director Charles Denight explained what the Pendleton Veterinary Clinic wanted from the commission as it looked to build a new clinic in an empty lot east of First Community Credit Union on Southwest Emigrant Avenue.
The owner of the clinic, currently located at 1901 S.W. Court Ave., is looking for a grant of up to $100,000 to help support a project that would cost approximately $1 million. Denight wrote that the clinic already has financing in place and is looking to purchase property across the street and build new housing “some time in the future.”
The clinic’s ask differs from the usual requests the commission receives because it falls outside of the purview of the urban renewal district’s established funding programs — the Jump Start loan, the façade restoration grant, the building permit grant and the upper story grant.
“The request for funding assistance for a new facility for the Pendleton Veterinary Clinic would not fit within any of these existing programs, but would require a decision to provide onetime funding support for this proposed project,” Denight wrote. “The veterinary clinic owners were advised of the loan and other provisions of the Jump Start Program. The clinic owner stated they were able to secure private financing on more favorable terms than what was available through the Jump Start Program, and the other benefits under that program were of limited value.”
While the commission does offer a $100,000 incentive for anyone who builds a new facility on the central river quarter, a stretch of downtown land located by the Umatilla River, the clinic’s proposed location lies far outside its boundaries.
Denight added that a new building on an empty lot would increase property value and bring in new money to the urban renewal district. It would also be rare case where the commission would contribute money to a new building rather than enhancing an existing property.
The Pendleton Downtown Association’s request is more long-term.
The association, a nonprofit that supports downtown business, is requesting $55,000 a year to cover the cost of hiring a full-time executive director and other operating expenses.
Last year, the association brought on Molly Turner, an intern from the University of Oregon’s Resource Assistance for Rural Environments program to act as its program manager.
While Turner’s intern contract ends July 1, she has agreed to a new three-year contract to stay on as the association’s executive director.
According to the association’s funding request, the organization needs a stable funding source to cover Turner’s $45,000 per year salary and another $10,000 for additional personnel costs and operational expenses.
The association argues that it’s already assisting the city in its economic development and downtown revitalization goals, and it could further help with its downtown parking and tree plans that members are currently working on.
The commission meeting is on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall, 500 S.W. Dorion Ave.
Originally Published in East Oregonian
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