The city of Tahlequah has received a $1.9 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration, and the money is earmarked for infrastructure improvements to support business expansion and job creation.
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimonda announced that part of the money from the “Investing in America agenda” is being awarded to Tahlequah for the city’s business district.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is about ensuring all communities in Oklahoma and across the country have the resources and support to build resilient and sustainable economies,” Raimonda said.
The city is matching that grant with $468,600 from American Rescue Plan funds, set aside for this purpose last July during budget deliberations. According to the grantee’s estimates, this is expected to create 200 jobs and generate $2 million in private investments.
City Administrator Taylor Tannehill said these funds are for parking lot improvements in the downtown area and connectivity for access from downtown businesses to parking lots.
One of the parking lots in the works is next to the low-water bridge on Spring Street, across from 2 Sisters Financial and north of the pink house, Tannehill said.
“It will be a small lot, but we will take that [old house] down and put a parking lot there,” Tannehill said.
The grant is also for improvements to the existing parking lot for Provalus, which is now housed in the old Workman Department Store building.
“[It will improve] those connections from that parking lot, making it more Americans with Disabilities Act accessible and easier to get from the parking lot to the downtown area,” Tannehill said. “It doesn’t involve the old church.”
The grant will fund the installation of lighting, landscaping and at least one retaining wall, Tannehill said.
“If you are going up Downing Street, the rocks are falling off and a bunch of vegetation growing up in them,” he said.
Part of the funds will be spent on a retaining wall to secure that area, Tannehill said.
“The grant was also written to construct a pedestrian bridge over Downing to an alleyway that runs behind Vidalia’s – behind those apartments – and make some improvements to the alleyway,” Tannehill said. “And to have a midblock access point by Jazz Lab.”
Tannehill said that was the way the grant was written, but it may allow other options to create a better environment for people using Downing Street to get to Muskogee Avenue.
“We are still exploring our options, but we want to make that parking lot a little more user-friendly,” Tannehill said.
The Provalus incentives were created prior to this grant being entertained, Tannehill said.
“The incentive was a value to put toward the parking lot. With this grant becoming available and using it for this purpose – this type of improvement wasn’t part of that incentive package,” Tannehill said. “For the economic development portion, that was kind of our direction, as we are going to have more people using more parking spaces downtown. It helps Provalus but it also helps the other businesses.”
The aid to other businesses comes in the form of additional parking and access to shops, as the lot is not just for Provalus but is a public lot, Tannehill said.
“This grant has the ability to improve downtown in ways only dreamed about in this past,” said Nathan Reed, CEO and president of Tahlequah Area Chamber of Commerce. “This is a transformational opportunity and will drive investment into Tahlequah supporting the businesses and the community. This is an exciting time for our community.”
