The Cleveland Downtown Development Authority is currently working on several projects that are expected to enhance the downtown area as well as the entire city.
During their meeting on Thursday, the City of Cleveland’s Economic Development and Planning Director Tom O’Bryant said they are ready to submit a grant application to the Appalachian Regional Commission for developing a Strategic Plan for downtown Cleveland. The application is awaiting the mayor’s signature.
O’Bryant said they should hear something during the first part of next year about the funding.
The authority is also working on a grant to place one, possibly two, murals on downtown businesses.
O’Bryant said the city has also applied for a Transportation Alternative Program grant from the Georgia Department of Transportation. According to O’Bryant, the funds will be used for preliminary engineering work for sidewalks to connect Freedom Park downtown with Woodman City Park. If approved, this project would provide a much-needed crosswalk at East Kytle Street and Brooks Street, according to O’Bryant.
In addition to engineering funds, the city can later apply for funding to construct the project. Cleveland is also looking at ways to connect the proposed sidewalks to other resources in the city and county.
“Having this type of plan in place – having our downtown strategic plan in place – further strengthens our opportunity to go after funding and assistance and also to incorporate into our regular planning these types of facilities,” O’Bryant told authority members.
