The effort to update Rhinelander's downtown got a boost last night as the city council approved going after federal dollars administered by the state.
City consultant, Kurt Muchow, first held a public hearing on going after the Community Development Block Grant funds for planning. The funds help communities improve opportunities and vitality. The goal is to upgrade downtown infrastructure with business expansion, including sewer, water and street extensions and among the approved projects are downtown revitalization. The planning grant the city is applying for would be in the final category...
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"....the grant provides 50 percent of the grant up to $25,000. Twenty-five thousand is for a community-wide grant. A downtown project is not considered community-wide so the maximum grant is $15,000...."
If the planning grant is approved, the city would contract to prepare a plan to do infrastructure upgrades.
In other action, the city approved a contract with Nicolet College to complete a mural on a building surrounding the bottom of the wireless tower downtown. Students will work on the project and will be reviewed each year.
