Page 35 - Cuero, TX Downtown Plan

Years
Rank Projects and Programs Lead Entities
1 - 2 3 - 4 5+
Conduct a needs assessment (e.g., survey, focus groups,
stakeholder interviews) to identify knowledge gaps and areas
of interest. Topics may include: historic preservation tax credits,
creative compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) 
standards, restoration/reconstruction techniques and resources,
and establishment of a Public Improvement District (PID).
Recruit local and regional experts that will have credibility with
property and business owners, developers, and elected officials. 
Schedule a two-part kickoff series that tackles relevant community
issues in sufficient detail so program participants can engage in 
new business practices.

Invest in marketing collateral to ensure high turnout and to create
sufficient "buzz" to lock in future program success. 

10 TIRZ Formation CDC, City
Conduct a blight study, which assesses the existing conditions
of an area which must “substantially arrest or impair the sound
growth of the municipality or county creating the zone, retard the 
provision of housing accommodations, or constitute an economic
or social liability and be a menace to the public health, safety,
morals, or welfare in its present condition and use...”
Establish the geographical boundaries of the tax increment
reinvestment zone, which will be determined by the blight study. 
Empower and fund the Cuero Development Corporation to
acquire, rehab and sell select at-risk properties with TIRZ funds, 
dedicated general funds, or the proposed Cuero Heritage Fund.

Prepare and adopt a Project Plan and a Reinvestment Zone
Financing Plan, which should include: a detailed list of
improvement projects (and associated costs within the zone); an 
economic feasibility study; methods of financing all estimated
project costs; total appraised value of taxable real property in the
zone; and the duration of the zone, among other items.
Freeze tax revenues in those boundaries, and apply tax money or
public bonds to support economic development projects in the
zone, which are typically used to pay for infrastructure and capital 
improvements.

CDC,
11 Cuero Heritage Fund (Proposed)
Main Street

Coordinate with local banks to establish a loan pool to capitalize
and administer the fund. 

Explore various capitalization sources through the USDA, SBA,
CBDG, EDA, and other state and national funding pools. 

Contribute City funds to a new Revolving Loan Fund or create a
separate fund to guarantee bank financing. 

ADOPTED 03.04.13 35