Mayor Holliday Meets with Elected Officials to Secure Grant Funds for Greensboro 

Greensboro Mayor Keith Holliday spent today in Washington meeting with Senator Elizabeth Dole, Congressmen Richard Burr, Howard Coble and Brad Miller, and Chiefs of Staff for Senator John Edwards and Congressman Mel Watt* to seek their assistance in securing a US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Brownfield Economic Development Initiative (BEDI) grant for Greensboro. In one-on-one meetings with each dignitary, Holliday stressed the importance of this $2 million grant for our area, which would allow Greensboro to put into motion an economic revitalization effort for a ten-acre site located along South Elm Street just south of Lee Street.

Holliday reports that his meetings were successful in that all elected officials were enthusiastic in their support of this grant and what it would mean for the area. He said, "I was extremely pleased by the reception I received from Senator Dole and each of our representatives. It made me feel very optimistic that our chances for receiving this grant have been increased."

The BEDI grant would be combined with a $3 million Section 108 loan from HUD, a commitment from the city to fund up to $1.05 million of infrastructure improvements and a $350,000 commitment of in-kind and planning services from Downtown Greensboro, Inc., to set forth a comprehensive revitalization effort. The money would fund work necessary to prepare the property for private development.

The South Elm Street area is critical to overall downtown revitalization efforts since it is part of the south Greensboro business area and serves as a gateway into the center city. Adjacent properties have recently seen dramatic improvements, including Southside.

The announcement of grant recipients is expected to take place around December 1, 2003. For more information, contact Nancy Lindemeyer at 373-2105.

* Congressman Watt was scheduled to meet with the Mayor but had to cancel to attend a funeral. Senator Edwards was preparing for presidential debates.