Becky's Burger Wagon, 1702 N. Spruce St., La Grande, is one of nine La Grande businesses that have applied for funding in 2023 through the Urban Renewal Agency's call for projects program.

LA GRANDE — The Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission will meet for a joint special session to allocate project funding on Monday, July 10.

Nine project proposals were submitted for consideration, according to the agenda packet. All projects requested $75,000 or less in funding.

Proposals were submitted by Becky’s Burger Barn, Eastern Wheelworks, Evermine Label Company, Final Cut Pizza and Pub, JC Woodworks, NK West Building, Reed and Associates Insurance, Rodeway Inn and Valley Insurance.

The adopted budget for the program allocates $350,000 for projects not located within the La Grande Business and Technology Park and, across the nine proposals, a total of $589,916 was requested.

Each project has already been assessed and scored by staff. Points are awarded for a variety of different categories, including business visibility, project readiness, reduction of blight, return on investment, impact to the central business zone and ratio of private investment to public dollars.

Highest scoring project

Currently, the highest scoring project is Valley Insurance, 1215 Adams Ave., with 103 points out of a maximum score of 155. The applicant — JR Price and Associates, Inc. — plans to reconfigure and renovate the interior of the building, which used to be Umpqua Bank, into a multi-tenant space. The west side of the building will be occupied by Valley Insurance while the east side will be turned into three new leasable office spaces.

The project received a blight score of only 10 — out of a maximum of 30 — since the blight damage is limited to the exterior of the property.

Not including the price of purchasing the building, the estimated project cost is $372,075 with $313,075 in private investment. JR Price and Associates requested $75,000 in funding, but are eligible for a maximum amount of only $59,000 because the application included costs not covered under the scope of the call for projects.

Second place

The second highest scored project — with a total staff score of 99 and a blight score of 30 — is the Rodeway Inn, 402 Adams Ave. The highest possible blight score means the existing structure is either unfit to occupy or a potential hazard to the public.

The 32-room motel closed in December 2021 after the building was damaged by a fire. Owner Erik Ogaard is working to reopen the Rodeway Inn in order to bring another lodging option to La Grande and create an estimated five new jobs.

The estimated project cost is $315,553, not including the $200,000 already spent to repair roofing and fire damage prior to submitting a call for projects application. There has been $240,000 in private investment, and Ogaard is requesting $75,000 in funding.

A tie for third

Tied for the project’s third highest staff score are Eastern Wheelworks and NK West Storefront. Each project received a total staff score of 85. However, the projects’ blight scores differ, with Eastern Wheelworks scoring a 30 and NK West Storefront a 15.

Eastern Wheelworks is currently located at 1211 Washington Ave., and owner Sean Lerner is looking to expand the business. Lerner purchased Sunshine Corner, 711 Adams Ave., and if he receives funding, the address would become the new home of Eastern Wheelworks.

The building has been vacant for a number of years and is in a state of disrepair. The project would turn a dilapidated shell of a building into a modern retail space with a commercial space.

The estimated project cost is $199,086, with $124,085 in private investment. Lerner requested $75,000 in funding through the call for projects process.

Owner Steve Widmyer is looking to build out the one remaining storefront in the NK West building, 1204 Adams Ave. He has already identified an established retail tenant to occupy the space once it is completed — a woman’s boutique by the name of Marmalade Fresh Clothing.

The retail space has been vacant since 2002.

The project is estimated to cost $258,792, with a private investment of $201,390. Widmyer requested $75,000 in funding, but the project is eligible to receive only $57,403.

Remaining project proposals

Evermine Labels, 1124 Washington Ave., received a staff score of 71 and a blight score of 10. Owners Jeanne and David Williamson would like to remodel the elevated driveway of the former Maridell Center to create an open air patio space for the community.

Reed and Associates Insurance scored a 65 on the staff score and a 10 on the blight score. Owner Kevin Reed decided to relocate his business from Island City to La Grande — moving into the building that formerly housed Community Bank, 904 Adams Ave.

Final Cut Pizza and Pub, 2104 Island Ave., received a staff score of 55 and a blight score of 20. The project would allow owners Joe and Jamie Cox to do building improvements, including renovating the patio area and expanding into the adjacent vacant space.

Becky’s Burger Barn and JC Woodworks each received a staff score of 50. The projects received blight scores of 20 and 10, respectively.

Becky Royal-Boyd recently expanded her food truck business into a brick-and-mortar location at 1702 N. Spruce St. The location was formerly home to Palermo’s and stood vacant for three years. The project would help spruce up and improve the space.

Sam Jacobson, the owner of JC Woodworks, 1415 Jefferson Ave., would like to repair and repaint the deteriorating brick, as well as install new windows.

Ranking projects and next steps

While the projects have currently been assigned staff scores and blight recommendations, the final ranking is still subject to change. During the joint meeting, members of the agency and commission can allocate an additional 40 points per project.

Once the proposals are evaluated and ranked, the available funding will be allocated to projects starting with the highest ranked proposal and working down the list. Projects will receive the full amount of funding requested until the call for projects budget is exhausted. Members of the agency and commission are also not obligated to award the full $350,000 of budgeted funds.

The Monday, July 10, Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission special session, which is open to the public, will begin at 6 p.m. at La Grande City Hall, 1000 Adams Ave. The meeting also will be streamed live on the EO Alive website and Facebook page.