‘We have to do things’

“We have to do things that prove we’re alive.”

Portland Redevelopment Commission member Mike Simons summed up the purpose of the group and its first meeting of the year Friday, which was largely used to discuss potential projects that can be implemented in the city to prove it is indeed alive.

The commission is hoping a potential grant from the state’s Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) can be used to help fund new projects to prove to potential new businesses, visitors and residents that the city has a lot to offer.

Newly appointed member Reda Theurer-Miller, former executive director of the Youth Service Bureau, gave an update on the city’s Main Street organization, which is meeting regularly to help prepare a lengthy application for OCRA’s Main Street Revitalization Program grant.

The grant awards up to $600,000 for a city’s downtown revitalization efforts. According to OCRA’s website, a city has to match 20% of any funds provided by the state.

The commission discussed everything from putting banners on street lights to freshly coating trash cans as different things that can be done with the grant money.

“This is an easy way to jumpstart downtown,” said commission member Rusty Inman.

An overhaul of the brick alley north of Community Resource Center was also discussed.

The commission is ultimately hoping the alley can be renovated to provide a gathering place for events and casual lounging for the city’s residents and visitors.

Before any shindig can happen, though, a gas line under the alley has to be replaced, something the city has already approved and funded. That work will be completed when weather allows. Afterward, the alley’s bricks will have to be relaid.

Theurer-Miller said these are parts of “cohesive” and “progressive” steps needed to make downtown the best it can be.

In other business, commission members Joe Johnston, Dave Teeter, Inman, Theurer-Miller and Simons:

•Heard that Mayor John Boggs is working with local banks to increase financial incentives for businesses and entrepreneurs to set up shop in Portland.

•Gave vocal approval to having Jason Clearwaters of Butler Fairman & Seufert, Portland Aviation Board’s engineering firm, speak to the commission about potentially providing funding in part for Portland’s proposed airport runway extension.

•Elected Inman as president, Theurer-Miller as vice president and Johnston as secretary of the commission

•Scheduled meetings, the next of which is scheduled for April 24, though Theurer-Miller floated the idea of a potential special meeting for the commission in the future to match its goals for the city with the group putting together the application’s outline for potential projects that could be used with OCRA’s grant money.