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E-Dart Newsletter (“All Americans need a sense of place, that’s what makes our physical surroundings worth caring about…” Ed McMahon) February 25th 2010 What You Will Find… • CORE Incentive Programs • PSC Fraine Barracks Quiet Rail • The Downtowners’ Rip-Roarin’ Ribfest: New in 2010 • Street Fair vendor applications for 2010 pouring in • Downtown Updates • Upcoming Events • Association News CORE Incentive Programs City of Bismarck encourages development in the Downtown area… The CORE Incentive Programs offers a kind of financial assistant and/or technical assistant in redeveloping and restoring the downtown Bismarck area. CORE Programs offered in Bismarck are: Façade and Signage Grant, Housing Incentive Grant, Technical Assistance Bank, and Sidewalk Subsurface Infill. The CORE Incentive Programs were established by the City of Bismarck to “encourage rehabilitation, reinvestment, and new development in the downtown area”. They fund projects that will serve as the foundation for future downtown development and a healthy tax base. CORE Incentive Programs are funded by the Downtown Tax Increment District. For more information or to see if you are eligible to take part in these programs, call the Bismarck Planning Department at: 701-355-1840 (photo pictured: Bismarckpride.com) ---------------------------- Quiet Rail at No Cost…? Quiet Rail in front of the Public Service Commission... The chance to quiet the private railway crossing at Fraine Barracks will be in front of the Public Service Commission Monday March 1st, 1:30 at the State Capitol's Brynhild Haugland Room (main floor). Under a new law, railroads are not allowed to sound their horns at a 'private crossing' unless requested to by the PSC. BNSF has continued to sounds their horns at this crossing. Attendance is encouraged by those who support quiet rail for both public and private crossings. You may also contact the PSC and Bismarck City Commission and show your support for quiet rail efforts in Bismarck. ------------------------ The Downtowners' 2010 Rip-Roaring Ribfest…It’s a mouthful! New to Ribfest 2010… Ribfest 2010 is going to be a banner year! New this year at Ribfest, our VIP Tent! Get treated like a Ribfest Rock Star with A-List service. Private food lines, a VIP drink station, a chance to sample other ribs, and your own bathroom facilities, all right near the stage! Call the Downtowners to purchase these exclusive tickets! The Downtowners are now accepting sponsorships and volunteer help for Ribfest 2010. Contact the Downtowners office for sponsorship information, in-kind donations, or to volunteer and show support for your community. Sponsorships can range from $300 to Title Sponsorships. Get V.I.P. passes; promote your organization to thousands of Ribfest attendees, and much more…! Phone: 701-223-1958 Email: getit@downtownbismarck.com Website: www.bismarckribfest.com Look for updated information on Ribfest 2010 by going to www.bismarckribfest.com -------------------------- Downtowners' Street Fair 2010 Vendor applications coming in… The DBA has already received many vendor applications for Street Fair 2010. Please contact the Downtowners’ office if you haven’t received your application and would like to participate. We are also looking for sponsors and volunteers for this long time community event. Please call for more information. Phone: 701-223-1958 Email: getit@downtownbismarck.com ----------------------- Downtown updates Renaissance Zone Authority recommendations, City Commission meeting… • The Renaissance Zone Authority monthly meeting 2/10/10: The Authority recommended 5-1, two qualifying restrictions on the RZ program, which went to the Bismarck City Commission 2/23/10. In the recommended changes, persons who qualify for Renaissance Zone tax exemptions may not qualify for all CORE incentive grants for the same property. It could work similarly in reverse; those qualifying for CORE incentive grants may be ineligible for Renaissance Zone benefits for a time period. In both scenarios, signage, subsurface infill, housing, and Technical Assistant Bank grants could still be used. Actions/concerns on tax breaks were carried over to their next meeting, with much discussion on owner/lessee situations and the programs purpose. The next RZA meeting will be March 10 at 4:00 p.m. in the City/County building on 5th street. • Update from the Bismarck City Commission meeting 2/23/10: The Bismarck City Commission approved the above Renaissance Zone Authority recommendations that went before the commission. The approved recommendations limit designated RZA projects from receiving the CORE façade grant. It also limits CORE projects that receive a façade grant from being eligible for RZA designation for two years. The Commission approved with Commissioner Schwab being the dissenting vote. ---------------- Upcoming Events What’s shakin’ Downtown… February 27th Young Professionals 2nd Annual Chill-n-Bowl at Midway Lanes, Mandan www.ypnetwork.org February 27th & March 6th cedesigns knitting classes Call Cheri at 701-471-2131 to register. 417 E Broadway March 1st PSC meeting on quiet rail efforts. 1:30 @ the State Capitol Building. March 2nd-27th BAGA: Elizabeth Schwankl, Fargo at Bismarck Arts & Galleries Assoc. BAGA March 6th 28th Annual Wild ‘N Wooly Boots-N-Buckles Round up Wing Ding. Music and entertainment will be provided by Merrill Piepkorn’s band, the “Radio Stars”. Piepkorn will also serve as the Auctioneer for the evening activities. Social and silent auction begins at 6:00 pm with a buffet dinner, live auction and dancing to follow. Tickets are $35 per person or $280 for a Table of 8. Reservations can be made by calling the Symphony Office at 258-8345 or online at www.bismarckmandansymphony.org Downtown Radisson March 10th Renaissance Zone Authority meeting. 4:00 @ the Bismarck City/County Building. Owner/lessee discussion. March 12th The 24th Annual BAGA Wine Tasting with Captain Jacks @ Lady J's Catering at the Bismarck Municipal County Club. Tickets available at Captain Jacks north and south locations. March 17th The Rat Pack is Back! With a 12 Piece Orchestra featuring songs like: "Lady is a Tramp", "That's Amore", "Mr. Bojangles", "My Way". Tickets available at the Bismarck Civic Center or Ticketmaster. 800-745-3000 Bismarck Civic Center Downtowners’ Association news Welcome new members, renewal notices for 2010, DBA member surveys says!… Welcome to our newest Downtowners! Glance Spa & Salon and Goebel Pediatric Dentistry. Please join us in welcoming these organizations to the Downtown Business Association. Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership to the Downtowners. Your membership supports efforts to continue to make the Bismarck Downtown area flourish, advocate for membership, and continue to host popular community events. Membership second notices were sent. Please contact us if you haven not received your invoice. • Join the Downtowners on Facebook! Search for Downtown Business Association of Bismarck and get up to the minute Downtown news, plus qualify for special promotions! • If you haven’t already, please follow the link below to complete the February Downtowners Member survey. Hurry, it closes on Feb 28th! Organizations that complete the survey will qualify for $10 in Downtown Dollars. In order to qualify for prizes, you must identify your organization in the survey. Follow this link to begin: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2FLLNNH ☺ Bismarck attorneys Tom Dickson and Jodi Colling have been presented with the Abused Adult Resource Center’s Espirt de Corps award, exhibiting public spirit, empathy and a sense of honor in ending domestic violence and sexual assault. • Volunteers are still needed to help removed snowflake lights downtown! Take-down usually lasts one hour. Please contact Dawn at the Downtowners if you’re interested. 701-223-1958. Thanks! • Please send all member business news and events to: kate@downtownbismarck.com and we will try our best to get the information out to members and on our website. We also encourage you to send pictures along (preferably a JPEG with good resolution). • Check the Downtown Business Association’s website for updated news and events. www.downtownbismarck.com Please forward this on to people interested in Downtown news! www.downtownbismarck.com Contact: 204 N 4th St/PO Box 521, Bismarck ND 58502 PH: 701-223-1958 getit@downtownbismarck.com Attn: Dawn Kopp
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