TO AN ARREST AND CONVICTION. METRO COUNCIL VOTED TO APPROVE THE CITY’S $1.2 BILLION BUDGET. SO WE’RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING. MOST OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, JUST TO NAME A FEW. BUT 3 MILLION IS GOING TO SOUTH END BUSINESS ATTRACTION FUND. WLKY’S MADISON ELLIOTT IS LIVE IN VALLEY STATION WITH A LOOK AT HOW THIS MONEY WILL HELP THEIR MADISON. HEY GUYS! WELL, THE FUND WILL PROVIDE INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT RETAILERS AND OTHER BUSINESSES TO THE AREA, AND WE HEADED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY TODAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE. AND THEY TELL US THEY’RE EXCITED. ALMOST EVERY DAY YOU CAN FIND SEANA HUM AT STOMPING GROUNDS COFFEE VALLEY STATION. IT’S HER GO TO PLACE FOR HER DAILY CAFFEINE FIX. WHEN I GO OUT OF TOWN I TRY TO TAKE ME A COLD ONE WITHOUT ICE SO I CAN HAVE IT THE NEXT DAY AND. WHEN OWNERS JULIE AND DAVID KENNEDY OPENED IN 2016, THEY BECAME THE FIRST LOCALLY OWNED MOM AND POP COFFEE SHOP IN VALLEY STATION. FOR NEARLY TEN YEARS, THEY’VE BEEN BREWING UP COFFEE AND COMMUNITY, BUT IT’S AMAZING BECAUSE THIS IS A WATERING HOLE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE CONGREGATE HERE TO BE WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITY. SHE KNOWS BUSINESSES LIKE HERS ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF A COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY SHE’S EXCITED. METRO COUNCIL APPROVED $3 MILLION FOR THE SOUTH END BUSINESS ATTRACTION FUND. I FEEL LIKE VALLEY STATION HAS ALWAYS KIND OF TAKEN THE BACK SEAT TO GETTING SOME FUNDING AND STUFF OUT HERE. WE GET THINGS LAST AND SOME, SO SOMETIMES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE FORGOTTEN ABOUT AND SO THAT THAT IS REALLY GREAT. COUNCILMAN KHALIL BACHON REPRESENTS VALLEY STATION AND SAYS HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME PUSHING FOR THIS MONEY. MY PRIORITY IS NET POSITIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY, FOR THE SOUTH END. THE FUND WILL ALLOW FOR GRANTS AND LOANS THROUGH A METRO GOVERNMENT PROGRAM AND INCENTIVIZE ANCHOR TENANTS AND BUSINESSES ALONG DIXIE HIGHWAY, ANOTHER SOUTH END CORRIDOR IS TO GO OUT AND SAY, HEY, WE REALLY WANT YOUR BUSINESS TO COME TO DIXIE HIGHWAY OR THE SOUTH END OR FAIRDALE OR NEW CUT ROAD. WHAT’S IT GOING TO COST TO TO DO THAT? HOW CAN WE HELP YOU GET OVER THAT THRESHOLD? LIFELONG RESIDENTS LIKE HUM SAY THEY’RE GRATEFUL THERE COULD BE MORE BUSINESSES TO BUILD UPON THE COMMUNITY. I WANT TO GO WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NAME. AND ANOTHER 3 MILLION WAS ALSO APPROVED FOR THE EAST END INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT FUND
$3M of approved Metro Council budget going to South End Business Attraction Fund
Metro Council voted to approve the city’s $1.2 billion budget this week, with most of the money going to improve public safety, new technology, recruitment for LMPD and first responders, and affordable housing. However, $3 million is also going to the South End Business Attraction Fund. The fund will allow for grants and loans through METCO and provide incentives to attract retailers, restaurants, and other businesses to improve the amenities along Dixie Highway and other South End corridors. “It will allow us to incentivize anchor tenants, anchor businesses that we’re looking for,” said Councilman Khalil Batshon.”We really want your business to come to Dixie Highway, or the South End, or Fairdale or New Cut Road,” he added. “What’s it going to cost to do that? How can we help you get over that threshold?”At Stomping Grounds Coffee Co. in Valley Station, which falls within Batshon’s district, they say they are excited that more investment will be coming to the area. “I feel like Valley Station has always kind of taken the backseat to getting some funding and stuff out here,” said coffee shop owner Julie Kennedy. “We get things last. And so sometimes you feel like you’re forgotten about, and so that is really great.” The West End Improvement Fund and the East End Infrastructure Improvement Fund are also receiving $3 million.
Metro Council voted to approve the city’s $1.2 billion budget this week, with most of the money going to improve public safety, new technology, recruitment for LMPD and first responders, and affordable housing.
However, $3 million is also going to the South End Business Attraction Fund.
The fund will allow for grants and loans through METCO and provide incentives to attract retailers, restaurants, and other businesses to improve the amenities along Dixie Highway and other South End corridors.
“It will allow us to incentivize anchor tenants, anchor businesses that we’re looking for,” said Councilman Khalil Batshon.
“We really want your business to come to Dixie Highway, or the South End, or Fairdale or New Cut Road,” he added. “What’s it going to cost to do that? How can we help you get over that threshold?”
At Stomping Grounds Coffee Co. in Valley Station, which falls within Batshon’s district, they say they are excited that more investment will be coming to the area.
“I feel like Valley Station has always kind of taken the backseat to getting some funding and stuff out here,” said coffee shop owner Julie Kennedy. “We get things last. And so sometimes you feel like you’re forgotten about, and so that is really great.”
The West End Improvement Fund and the East End Infrastructure Improvement Fund are also receiving $3 million.
