ROCK SPRINGS – The Wyoming Main Street Advisory Board recently voted to fully fund two Technical Assistance Grants submitted by the Rock Springs Main Street/Urban Renewal Agency (URA).
The largest of the grants will bring $22,100 to Rock Springs in finalize the historic preservation of the Freight Station building located at 603 South Main Street. While the majority of the building’s renovations were completed last year, the north side of the cargo area, now called Bunning Hall, still features cinder-blocked openings. The grant, which will be matched with $3,900 in local funds, will replace all of the openings with more historically accurate non-functioning cargo doors. Not only will the planned renovations assist with the historic character of the building but they’ll help with energy efficiency in the facility as well.
Pat Robbins, South Central Regional Director for the Wyoming Business Council said in a release, “The grant for the Transfer Depot completes the renovations to a building which has proven to be an integral structure in the district. The building now hosts a variety of events, providing a great gathering place, while preserving an important chapter in Rock Springs history.”
Chad Banks, URA Manager, says the fact that the building is used for so many events can add a level of complexity when finding a time to complete the renovations.
“The building is used just about every week for various events.So we have to really find about a two week window when we can schedule the contractors in to do the work,” said Banks. “So that’ll be the tricky part is to find that two week window when we’re able to do it.”
Banks said they hope the project will be completed sometime in midsummer.
The second grant will enable the Rock Springs Main Street/URA to contract with the National Main Street Center for technical assistance in “Fostering an Ethnic Enclave Business District.” The grant will provide $3,348, which will be matched by the Rock Springs Main Street/URA with just under $400.
The term ethnic enclave is used to refer to either a residential area or a business district with a significant ethnic concentration, strong cultural identity, and a high percentage of locally owned businesses. Downtown Rock Springs has such a concentration on Pilot Butte Ave. so the grant will allow the Rock Springs Main Street/URA to further enhance the development already taking place in that area. The program from the National Main Street Center will help the local program better understand the enclave economy, how to create a welcoming environment for minority and/or immigrant owned businesses, and tactics for growing and promoting these districts.
Pat Robbins said, “It’s exciting to see the creativity of the Rock Springs Main Street program with the Ethnic Enclave project. It will provide the program the means to reach out to the Hispanic businesses in Rock Springs, provide those businesses with resources and assistance, and help unify the district as a whole. I am so proud of the work the local program is doing and look forward to more innovative and creative programs in the future.”
According to Rock Springs Main Street/URA chairman Drew Varley, both of the projects will continue the program’s mission of enhancing Downtown Rock Springs.
The primary intent of Wyoming Main Street’s Technical Assistance program is to implement projects that have been indicated as priorities for local Main Street districts through planning documents, such as Downtown Master Plans and committee work plans. The Wyoming Main Street program offers competitive technical assistance grants to certified Main Street communities, of which Rock Springs is one.
For more information contact the Rock Springs Main Street/URA at 307-352-1434 or visit their website at DowntownRS.com.