The Bowling Green City Commission approved Tuesday $1.5 million in additional funds for the Disadvantaged Small Business Incubator project through state tornado relief funding.

The incubator will take the place of the former Save-A-Lot at 348 College St., but the city this summer found the expected renovation budget of $2.1 million would not be enough to secure a bid due to “rising labor, construction and supply costs,” according to the proposal.

City Manager Jeff Meisel said the additional costs will not fall on the city thanks to the approval to use West Kentucky State Aid Funding for Emergencies (SAFE) funding awarded in August, which covers the $1.5 million.

“This is what got us home in this project (and allows us) to be able to pull it off,” Meisel said. “We were able to show that this would be a good fit, a good project for (those funds).”

Meisel said the project, along with the newly approved funding, focuses on revitalizing small businesses after many were destroyed during the December 2021 tornadoes.

The city entered an agreement for the project in June 2022 with the purpose of “promoting the establishment of new and diverse businesses” in the city, the proposal states, putting up $1 million in funds alongside $600,000 from Live the Dream Development Inc. and $500,000 from Houchens Properties.

The facility will house six businesses owned by women, minorities and low-income persons once complete. People’s Opportunity Program for Underserved Populations, or POP-UP, a program under Live the Dream Development, submits potential tenants to the incubator’s board for approval.

Commissioners approved the use of funds 4-0 with Commissioner Dana Beasley Brown absent.

Meisel said he now hopes to see the project complete by late summer or early fall of 2024.

Commissioners on Tuesday also accepted a $235,000 Hazard Mitigation Grant award for the design of five storm shelters — two at Lovers Lane Soccer Complex, two at Preston Miller Park and one at Pedigo Park.

The proposal states that grant funding will be delivered in phases, with phase two for construction awarded once the design process is complete.

The grant requires a 5.2% funding match from the city and a 4.8% match from the state totaling $35,250. The city will utilize local parkland value for most of the match cost with $5,888 left over.

The new facilities bring the total number of planned shelters up to seven across city parks, with two planned at Hobson Grove Park and Lampkin Park pending grant approval.

Each shelter will have a capacity of roughly 360 and will include a bathroom, ventilation system and electrical hookups. They will also contain magnetic, remote-controlled locks that allow them to be opened only in emergencies.

Director of Neighborhood & Community Services Brent Childers said the shelter’s designs will need to meet FEMA guidelines but ultimately are designed for short-term stays of around 30 minutes.

Meisel said it’s still unclear who will oversee the locking mechanism but suggested they may be connected to the County Outdoor Warning Sirens or COWS.

Commissioners approved the acceptance of funds 4-0.

Also approved at Tuesday’s meeting:

• Acceptance of an award and contract for Homeland Security Grant Funds through the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security totaling $127,2000 to purchase internet firewall appliances for the city’s Information Technology Department.
• Acceptance of Product Development Initiative Grant Funds from the Kentucky Association of Economic Development and Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development totaling $415,201 for the Inter-Modal Transportation Authority to expand infrastructure and railroads at the Kentucky Transpark.
• Rezoning of 10.45 acres at 6449 Nashville Rd. from Highway Business and Light Industrial to Light Industrial only to allow for expansion of a self-storage facility owned by JGL Properties, LLC.

City commissioners will meet again on Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m.