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Although they want to stay downtown, organizers of the Johnson City Farmers Market are concerned that an increase in the rate they’re paying to rent the Pavilion at Founders Park
Another 12 belong to owners who are receptive to reinvesting in their building.
Itâs those property owners who Dianna Cantler, the interim executive director of the Johnson City Development Authority, hopes will benefit from a new grant program funded in the stateâs fiscal year 2021-22 budget.
Cantler said the new pilot program sets aside $5 million for property owners across the state. If they meet certain eligibility requirements, Cantler said, property owners can receive 30% of the project value or up to $300,000.
Focusing on rural and mid-sized communities, Cantler said, the funding is only eligible in counties with 200,000 or fewer people, and the property must be in a national historic district or be considered a contributing structure to a district.
That didnât end up being the case.
âRevenues during FY21 have been extraordinarily better than what we budgeted and significantly better than what we would have normally anticipated in a normal year,â City Manager Pete Peterson said.
Why? Peterson thinks there are a few reasons.
With people being unable to travel, discretionary money traditionally spent elsewhere has gone to local retailers. Stimulus dollars from the federal government and enhanced unemployment benefits have also kept spending levels up, and the state is now in the first full year of new rules for online sales tax collection, which has further boosted revenues.
Johnson City now has a home for its new visitors center.
City commissioners voted Thursday to purchase the two-story portion of the old Carolina, Clinchfield & Ohio Railway train depot at 300 Buffalo St. for $750,000 from Beacon Financial Credit Union.
The single-story section, which used to be home to Tupelo Honey Cafe before it closed in 2018, is not part of this deal.
âThe potential for the visitors center is very profound,â Convention and Visitors Bureau Board Chair Andy Marquart told commissioners Thursday.
Marquart said the location makes sense, particularly in light of the nearby development on West Walnut Street and the buildingâs proximity to East Tennessee State University and downtown.