Eastern Wheelworks scored the second highest in the Urban Renewal Agency's 2023 call for projects. Owner Sean Lerner, shown here on Saturday, March 26, 2022, is looking to expand and grow his business by moving into Sunshine Corner, 711 Adams Ave. 

LA GRANDE — Six La Grande businesses will receive help with business expansions, building renovations and new construction thanks to the city’s Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission’s call for projects.

Rodeway Inn, Eastern Wheelworks, Valley Insurance, NK West Storefront and Evermine Labels were the top five ranked projects and all will receive full funding. As the sixth-ranked project, Reed and Associates Insurance will be awarded partial funding.

“The thing I’m excited about is this particular year when I look at the call for projects I see some good physical building projects, but I also see a lot of business expansion (and) business growth tied to these projects,” said Timothy Bishop, the city of La Grande’s director of economic development. “I think sometimes when we think about urban renewal we think about bricks and mortar kind of investment, but I was really excited to see some genuine business expansion (and) business growth connected to these projects.”

While the adopted budget for the program allocates $350,000 for projects not located within the La Grande Business and Technology Park, a total of $589,916 was requested across nine proposals. Funding is allocated starting with the highest ranked proposal and working down the list. As such, the Urban Renewal Agency and Urban Renewal Advisory Commission could not fund every project.

Fully funded projects

The highest scoring project was the Rodeway Inn, 402 Adams Ave. 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 back the lodging option to La Grande’s visitors and create an estimated five new jobs.

Ogaard requested and will receive $75,000 from the call for projects process.

“This project is outside the Central Business Zone, but I think it has a significant impact on downtown because it is one of the first commercial structures that you see when you’re coming in on that first entrance” into La Grande from the freeway, Bishop said.

Eastern Wheelworks was the second highest scoring project. The business is currently located at 1211 Washington Ave., but the owner, Sean Lerner, is looking to expand. Lerner purchased Sunshine Corner, 711 Adams Ave., which will 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 will turn the dilapidated shell into a modern retail shop with a commercial space.

Lerner was awarded $75,000 in funding through call for projects.

“This is a pretty significant redevelopment that will then house an expanded local business,” Bishop said.

Coming in as the third highest ranked project was Valley Insurance. The goal of the project is to reconfigure and renovate the interior of the building at 1215 Adams Ave., which most recently was a branch of Umpqua Bank, into a multi-tenant space. The west side of the building will house Valley Insurance, while the east side will be turned into three new leasable office spaces.

The applicant — JR Price and Associates, Inc. — requested $75,000 in funding, but was eligible to receive only $59,000 due to the application including costs not covered under the scope of the call for projects.

NK West Storefront scored as the fourth highest project. Owner Steve Widmyer plans to build out the one remaining storefront in the NK West building, 1204 Adams Ave., which has been vacant since 2002. 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.

Members of the agency and commission expressed some concern about the marketability or viability of the retail tenant within La Grande. However, the proposal was about the building renovation and creating a new retail space where there was not previously one.

“Whether they can or can’t make product ‘A’ work in the space, creating a highly visible, high-traffic retail business in a spot that’s been vacant for a long time is a good use of urban renewal dollars,” City Manager Robert Strope said.

Widmyer requested $75,000 in funding, but was eligible to receive only $57,403.

Evermine Labels ranked fifth and was the last project to receive full funding. Owners Jeanne and David Williamson plan to remodel the elevated driveway of the former Maridell Center to create an open air patio space for the community.

Councilor David Glabe inquired whether this area would be considered public or private space. Bishop clarified that while it is private property, the intent is to create a gathering space for the community. It could be used casually, like people grabbing coffee and sitting on the patio, or for public functions, such as live music during events.

Bishop also pointed out that this project will help enhance the walkability of the block.

Partially funded and not funded projects

Reed and Associates received the final $8,597 of the call for project’s budget. Owner Kevin Reed decided to relocate his business from Island City to La Grande — moving into the building that formerly housed Community Bank at 904 Adams Ave.

The final three projects that did not receive funding were Final Cut Pizza, Becky’s Burger Barn and JC Woodworks. However, members of the agency and commission thought all the projects were good investments and encouraged applicants to apply again.

“These are all worthy projects in my opinion,” Glabe said.