Main Street program helps with improvements in Kimball

There are many noticeable improvements to businesses along Chestnut street in Kimball, including the new signage at the intersection of Chestnut and Third, also known as the junction of highways 30 and 71.

The Kimball Main Street Improvement and Design Program has had a hand in the improvements seen in town.

"It is a program that tries to incentivize fixing buildings, especially downtown, but really it is for any business as long as it is not a home-based business," said Wilson Bowling, Kimball's economic development director.

The program is specifically designed for businesses inside the city of Kimball to improve the aesthetics of the business area.

"So far this year there have been three businesses," Bowling said. "One (business) is filling out an application now and I have heard from two or three more that they are going to."

The five-person committee considers incoming requests prior to the request going through city council for approval and business owners can apply for funds once each year, but only for current projects.

"Any money from the city that is given out for free, any kind of grant, has to go through the city council," Bowling said.

Funding for the program comes from a portion of sales tax, and is referred to as LB840 funds.

Sales tax generated in the city is split into thirds, with two thirds being allocated to the city's general fund. The other third goes into the Kimball Main Street Design and Improvement fund.

Eligible activities have been extended to include roofs, window replacements, sandblasting and other brick repair. Previously eligible activities were new paint and primer, siding, signage, lighting, awnings, permanent landscaping and labor.

Improvements that are not allowed under the grant include gardens, sidewalks, sprinkler systems, driveways or any work that is done to the interior of the building.

Originally, businesses were granted a minimum of $300 in matching funds up to $2,000. Recently however, the maximum amount has been increased to $3,000.

Bowling said he looks forward to the granting funds to local businesses and hopes that this will be a pretty big year.

One company that took advantage of the program is Panhandle Coop, which recently installed fuel pumps at the corner of Hwy. 30 and Hwy. 71. The recent changes provide a cleaner, brighter corner, an additional information center and the convenience of 24-hour self-service.

The old fuel pumps, card reader and the building that partially hid them for years have been replaced.

"I'm so happy to have something nicer here," Refined Fuels team leader Roger Belsford said. "It has made a huge difference; it's cleaned up this corner a lot."

According to Susan Wiedeman, marketing director for the Panhandle Coop Association, the company conducted a traffic study in years past. That study determined that there was not enough traffic at the intersection to warrant a third convenience store, however, the amount of fuel sold at the unmanned station justified an upgrade of the site.

An additional benefit of the recent upgrade is that much of the work was done by local contractors, including Z&S Construction, Belsford said.

"With demolishing the former Chevron station, we have cleaned up the corner and made it easier for trucks to access our diesel pumps," Wiedeman stated via email. "New dispensers were installed as well as a new card reader."

Wiedeman added that major credit cards are accepted at the pumps and that the Panhandle Coop red fueling charge card offers a six cent discount.

"The sign was installed to not only advertise our fuel, but also Main Street Market, which we also own," Wiedeman said. "The message center is also available to post community messages when needed."

The company applied for and received a $2,000 grant, which was used to reimburse a part of the expense for erecting the digital message center.

"When discussing the sign permit, Kimball City Clerk Rosie Russell told us that this grant was available to us," Wiedeman said. "We are very proud to be part of the Kimball community."