DDP Economic Vitality Committee Packet

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting November 20, 2024 8 a.m. Zoom https://zoom.us/j/97320718187 (Over for additional Zoom info) AGENDA Welcome Agenda Minutes (October 2024) Public comments Updates on Master Plan • 120 S. Governor’s Ave. • Mobility Center between S. Bradford & S. Governor’s Ave. • Other current/emerging Updates from working groups 1. Critical Improvements Program (CIP) • Round 2 updates i. Oct 2024 applications recommended by EV approved by DDP BOD ii. Additional applications 2. Site Readiness Updates 3. Unlock the Block • Discuss REAP and recruitment strategies/incentives 4. Marketing downtown Dover and redevelopment Next EV meeting - December 18 (if needed) Other business Adjournment Next scheduled meeting – Tentatively December 18 @ 8 a.m. via Zoom Agenda items as listed may not be considered in sequence. Pursuant to 29 DEL. C. 10004(e)(2), this agenda is subject to change to include the addition or deletion of items, including executive sessions, which arise at the time of the meeting. The Economic Vitality Committee rebuilds and diversifies the downtown Dover area's economy by implementing business retention, recruitment and expansion strategies, and making strategic property/building purchases and sales of DDP-owned properties.

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting November 20, 2024 8 a.m. Zoom https://zoom.us/j/97320718187 (Over for additional Zoom info) Diane Laird is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: DDP Economic Vitality Time: Oct 22, 2024 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/97320718187 Meeting ID: 973 2071 8187 --- One tap mobile +13052241968,,97320718187# US +13092053325,,97320718187# US --- The Economic Vitality Committee rebuilds and diversifies the downtown Dover area's economy by implementing business retention, recruitment and expansion strategies, and making strategic property/building purchases and sales of DDP-owned properties.

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes October 22, 2023 3 p.m. via Zoom Attendance: Members: Rick Ferrell (Chair), John Van Gorp, Jessica Jackson (new DDP board and committee members), Mike Harrington, Mike Glick Guests: Hassan Najjar (The Biggs Museum), Evie Zerefos (SBDC and small business owner/trainer), Vanessa Hunter (National Contractors Coalition Assoc., Philadelphia, PA), Bobby Wilson (downtown business owner/US Veteran builder associate, former business owners barber shop, clothing store, advocate for DEI) Staff: Diane Laird, Ken Anderson, Camille Wilmer Welcome – All attendees introduced themselves. Agenda – Motion duly made by JVG & RF; unanimously accepted. Minutes (May 2024) - Motion duly made KVG & MH; and unanimously accepted. Public comments N/A UPDATES ON MASTER PLAN Ken and Diane shared updates: • Western gateway: Demo of 680-684 Forest Ave 120 S. Governors and Mobility Center between S. Bradford & S. Governor’s Ave. ▪ Over $30M provided for these projects from the State ▪ 120 S. Governor’s remediation, demolition, topsoil down and hydroseeding anticipated later in the week; site transformed to prepare for ▪ 148 S. Bradford: remediation at 148 Nov. 22, demo 2 weeks later ▪ 150 S. Bradford remediation later 2024, transition tenant, demo early 2025 • Concurrently considering other acquisitions contiguous with master plan vision. • DDP Federal Appropriations funding request • 120 S. Governor’s Ave • Open House for the Mobility Center, 5-7 pm. Oct. 23; public invited to comment on design and information- sharing Several questions were brought to the committee from Bobby Wilson regarding how bids are being accepted. In response, Ken indicated low offer and best overall bids. Diane offered to get Bobby’s contractors information to Jed Hatfield of Colonial Parking Inc. as they consider bids and especially those from local and minority companies. • Dover Kent MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) assessment of linkages to downtown anchors (Bayhealth, DAFB, SDU) and Loockerman placemaking opportunities and pedestrian- oriented design/landscaping concepts. Economic Vitality Committee 10-22-24 Downtown Dover Partnership Page 1

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes October 22, 2023 3 p.m. via Zoom • Fed delegation request of $5 M. Not awarded to DDP this year. Diane spoke with delegation representatives and found that project was considered but is early not shovel-ready.) DDP will apply again Spring 2025. Rick has been appointed as Chair of the EV committee. Rick is a business development consultant and works as Community Development Coach for state of DE in conjunction with DSHA and Division of Small Business who, together, oversee the Downtown Development Districts (DDD) program. He works with 12 DDD districts in DE. Rick mentioned that the DDP is getting a lot of visibility that is leveraging incentives and subsidies with many programs, including DDD and our Critical Improvements program (CIP), and others to ensure property owners are availing themselves to all funding available to them. All those in attendance are welcome to attend these EV meetings and those that feel inclined to become members are invited to do so. (Let Diane know.) CRITICAL IMPROVEMENTS Critical Improvements (Diane) Set up background, then introduce Rick as Economic Vitality Committee Chair, as well as the lead of the Critical Improvement Working Group. Rick and Diane present an update of Round One which the board approved last year for FY 23 funds ($1.2M +/-), and recommendations for allocations for FY 24 funds, as follows: Round One Update: ($1,039,394 approved for allocation) Completed projects, funds dispersed: ($392,900) • 108 W. Loockerman St., Doher Ferris (Coney Island Grille), $50,000 • 92 N. West St., Donny Legans (Rail Haus) $300,000 • 140 S. State St., Event Horizons (Grey Fox) $42,900 (plus $5,000 DDP Façade Improvement Grant) Projects Underway: ($672,425) • 1 W. Loockerman St., J & G Holdings (Joe Petrosky) $300,000 (Working closely with prospect.) • Loockerman Suites, LLC (Kim Adams) (total three project $300,000) o 221 W. Loockerman St., 184,124 (project underway, ant. completion: ) o 225 W. Loockerman St. $59,522 (project underway, ant. completion: ) o 215 W. Loockerman St. $56,354 (funds set aside, project underway) • 321 W. Loockerman St., Otis Brooks (snack shop/apts.) $72,425 (project pending, exploring new proposal and loan) Projects withdrawn: (-$25,931) • 123 & 125 W. Loockerman St., (Chris Raubaucher) $17,996 • 132 & 134 w. Loockerman St. Diana Welch and Ryan Weber (Golden Fleece) $7,935 Economic Vitality Committee 10-22-24 Downtown Dover Partnership Page 2

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes October 22, 2023 3 p.m. via Zoom Second round recommendations: ($654,062) The following seven projects have been recommended for funding by the Critical Improvements Panel as well as the Economic Vitality Committee, pending approval of documents and vacancy or related metrics: 1. 8 W. Loockerman St., Shahzeb Uppal, Former Citizen’s Bank, (multiple commercial entities as tenants) $146,900 2. 211 W. Loockerman St., Janaid Kareem (second floor apt.), $15,000 3. 55 E. Loockerman St., Mike Glick and partners, The Old Post (former post office) $300,000 Mike Glick share that there now 45 apartments are anticipated, and on-site parking; groundbreaking targeted in 2025. 4. 9 E. Loockerman St. Central Dover Offices, Inc. Nine East Taphouse (Former Frazier’s) $ 49,700 5. 8 The Green, Downtown Red Carpet Holdings, LLC, (corporate entity with goal of adding employees/residents to Dover location), not to exceed $92,462 6. 145 S. New St., Dover Holdings, LLC (Derrick Scott), four new apartments, $95,124 critical improvements; recommend $50,000 as “legacy project.” At least three additional projects are under consideration. (+/- $227,000) We anticipate these projects will be brought to the board for approval in near future. Diane asked for recommendation of funding allocations $654,062 to be approved for allocation to property owners for six new projects outlined above (as Second Round recommendations) should the committee recommend in favor. Rick will take the results of the recommendations to the DDP October 23 board meeting. Motion was made: Mike Harrington and John Van Gorp made motion to approve for recommended amounts for all projects(per above Second Round recommendations) - minus 55 E. Loockerman St. project - to the DDP board of directors. Unanimous approval was received. Jessica Jackson and Mike Harrington made motion to approve recommended amount of $300,000 for 55 E. Loockerman project. Vote was taken. Mike Glick abstained. Unanimous approval was received. UNLOCK THE BLOCK (REAP, REVOLVING LOAN FUND) DDP received Grant in Aid funding to support business recruitment and retention efforts in downtown Dover. DDP has flexibility with the exact programs developed or used to disperse funds. Funding amount is $60,000 (up to $75,000 max). Economic Vitality Committee 10-22-24 Downtown Dover Partnership Page 3

Economic Vitality Committee Meeting Minutes October 22, 2023 3 p.m. via Zoom Diane indicated that while a revolving loan program was envisioned, in further consideration, administering such a program (underwriting, legal, collecting payments, etc.) would be quite a heavy lift for DDP. Rick indicated that entities such as True Access Capital could help with underwriting and also for providing loans, for small business owners. In place of the proposed revolving loan program, the DDP could consider meaningful incentives that would entice or support new businesses locating in downtown Dove, and could be marketed alongside the CIP particularly to help recruit/support new businesses to properties that have recently received improvements. This would also show support to the property owners who are making improvements through CIP, as occupancy with qualified tenant is a requirement to disperse CIP funds. Diane recommended that both of these opportunities be put on next month’s agenda for discussion and asked that those present give thought to how best to: 1) Use the current REAP program, while possibly increasing the amount REAP grant amount (from $2,000) funding*; and 2) Devise a new recruitment incentive program and amount (+/- $5-7,000 per award) for those taking a lease on/adjacent to Loockerman St., and giving thought to what funds would actually cover and how and when funds would be dispersed. * Current REAP information: https://www.downtowndoverpartnership.com/ddp/REAP/ In terms of retention and expansion of existing business owners, the DDP’s current REAP program could continue to provide small business grants (currently $2,000) for stabilization and growth (expansion) strategies. MARKETING DOWNTOWN DOVER DDP is working collaboratively with both Mosaic Development Partners Marketing Dept. and Javier Santana of Higher Ground Creative to refresh DDP’s brand, market downtown events/activities through February 2025, and develop a package to begin to recruit residential/commercial tenants to downtown Dover, with emphasis on existing properties as well as those within the new mixed-use property at 120 S. Governors Ave., anticipated completion on/about 2027. Meeting adjourned Next Meeting – November 20 at 8 a.m. Economic Vitality Committee 10-22-24 Downtown Dover Partnership Page 4