Historic Downtown Plumbing Improvement Grant Program

The City of Coffeyville recognizes the historic restoration of buildings will contribute to the overall appearance, quality and vitality of the City’s Historic Downtown.  The Plumbing Improvement Program is in keeping with the economic development strategies outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan 2030.

The Plumbing Improvement Program is designed to facilitate private sector investment in making these desired interior or exterior improvements.  The Plumbing Improvement Program offers financial assistance, in the form of a matching grant up to $5,000.00 to retail or commercial property owners or business owners seeking to rehabilitate retail or commercial building s in the City’s Historic Downtown.  Several key goals of the Plumbing Improvement Program are:

• To strengthen the Coffeyville’s retail and commercial base of the Historic Downtown.
• To improve the structural integrity of buildings in the City’s Historic Downtown.
• To provide opportunities for owners and tenants to participate in the revitalization of their properties by stimulating private investment in the City’s Historic Downtown.
• To generate additional revitalization of buildings in the City’s Historic Downtown by focusing the investment on improvements visible to customers, neighboring merchants, and residents.
• To increase business by making Historic Downtown and individual businesses more attrictive. 

Eligibility

• Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to fund their share of the project.
• Property must be free from any judgement liens and all mortgage and tax obligations must be current.
• The property owner and all tenants must have current occupancy permits on file with City Hall.
• The Program is open to all retail and commercial businesses within Coffeyvilles Historic Downtown area.
• Purposed property in Coffeyville’s Historic Downtown must be zoned properly. 
• Only and individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application.   This includes: a tenant, owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property.  If the applicant does not own the property, but is a tenant of the property, the tenant must have the permission of the property owner in writing.
• The property owner must demonstrate approval of tenant alterations.
• The property must not have received a Plumbing Improvement Program grant prior. 
• The property owner must provide a copy of the building insurance. 

Plumbing Improvement Program Guidelines

1. Plumbing Improvement grants will be made on a “first come first served” basis and there are limited funds avalible each year of the program.
2. Plumbing Improvement grants will be paid on a reimbursement basis only.
3. Plumbing Improvement grant funds require a 50/50 match, and reimbursement will be half of the Plumbing Improvement costs  or $5,000.00 , whichever is less.  The Plumbing Improvement grants must be matched dollar for dollar by the building owner or business.  Plumbing Improvement grant assistance is provided for permanent building and site improvements only. 
4. Only an individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application.   This includes: a tenant, owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property.  If the applicant does not own the property, but is a tenant of the property, the tenant must have the permission of the property owner in writing.
5. An application for Plumbing Improvement grant assistance must be approved by the Director of Engineering prior to any work being started.
6. At the time of application, there shall be no taxes, fees or other debts owed to the City by the applicant and/building owner.
7. Plumbing Improvement grants will be for interior or exterior improvements only.  The business or building owner must match the City’s Plumbing Improvement  grant with building improvements inside or outside of the building.
8. The Plumbing improvement must be completed within 12 months of being approved by the City Commission in order to be reimbursed.
9. Proceeds of the Plumbing Improvement grant shall not be used to: pay off or refinance existing debt, pay salaries or applicant’s officers or employees, pay for the purchase or down payment for real estate, or pay income, real estate or othe taxes or assessments.
10. The City reserves the right to reject grant applications for assistance for buildings deemed beyond reasonable repair.
11. As a condition of the grant, the City may provide a building inspection team to determine the most urgent building needs.  This inspection report will be considered part of the grant application.  Previous Fire Department inspection reports will also be considered.
12. The application for grant assistance will be considered within 21 business days after submission of a completed application.

Generally Eligible Plumbing Improvements

• All interior or exterior building plumbing activities.

Note: the City may require building permits for some of the eligible improvements listed above.  It is critical that all businesses and building owners work with City Building Inspection Staff on design and obtain all necessary permits before beginning work. 

Generally Ineligible Plumbing Improvements

• Improvements in progress, initiated, or completed prior to application approval.
• Routine maintenance not part of an eligible plumbing improvement project.
• Billboards or wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business.
• Repairs to billboards or wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business.
• Mechanicals and Electrical systems.
• Labor performed by unlicensed contractor.
• Improvements to in-eligible establishments or those outside the designated Historic Downtown area. 

Plumbing Improvement Program Application Process

1. Meet with the Director of Engineering, or such other person as the City Manager may designate, to determine whether the Plumbing Improvement grant is applicable to the project.
2. Turn in the completed Plumbing Improvement Program application with all required attachments to the Director of Engineering, or such other person as the City Manager may designate.  Please include 8.5 x 11 copies of all drawings.  Copies of attachments and drawings, which are needed to secure a building permit from the City, are also acceptable.
3. Review of the project and Plumbing  Improvement Program application to determine eligibility and the amount of grant assistance allowed within 21 business days of the submission for all required information.   The Director of Engineering, or such other person as the City Manager may designate, may request additional information if he/she considers the information supplied by the applicant to be insufficient.  Upon the submission of all required information, the applicant may be contacted to schedule a tour of the project site and building.  City inspection staff may be invited to come on the tour of the building.
4. Upon project completion (must be within 12 months of when the grant was approved, schedule a follow-up tour and submit actual project cost information (receipts), including copies of itemized invoices, receipts, and such other documentation as may be required by the Plumbing Improvement Program grant agreement.
5. Upon receipt of evidence documenting actual project costs, the City shall have 30 days to confirm that such project costs were so incurred.  Within 30 days after all the requirements set forth are met, the City shall issue a check for reimbursement of the costs incurred, up to the amount awarded.
6. The City Commission will review the status of the Plumbing Improvement Program grant once a year to determine if any changes in the guidelines are necessary.

 Applications are available in the Engineering Department at City Hall - 102 W. 7th

Note: Funding is limited.   Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.  The determination of eligibility and priority for assistance is at the discretion of the City’s Director of Engineering.