CALDWELLâ??S DOWNTOWN RECIEVES PLANNING FUNDS

Washington, DC â?? The City of Caldwell will receive $150,000 in federal funding for downtown revitalization efforts, according to Idaho Senator Mike Crapo and the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA). The funding will help pay for planning and design studies aimed at creating economic development downtown. The federal funds will be matched by $100,000 in city funding. Crapo praised Caldwellâ??s application to create a â??downtown catalyst modelâ?? in correspondence with the EDA. He has supported Caldwell Mayor Garret Nancolasâ?? vision to construct a public plaza and daylight parts of Indian Creek in efforts to revitalize the downtown area. â??We want the seeds of this federal funding to result in a planning and design effort that could one day return an estimated $80 million in new economic development activity to downtown Caldwell,â?? Crapo said. â??Caldwell is one of Idahoâ??s fastest growing cities and I applaud Mayor Nancolasâ?? efforts to crystallize a vision for new jobs, new construction and new business growth downtown.â?? â??The projectâ??s successful approval came with a dedicated effort by the CEDC and City development staffâ??s working closely with Senator Mike Crapo and the EDA,â?? Nancolas said. â??We are truly grateful of support we have received from our Congressional Delegation, especially the support we have received from Senator Crapo.â?? Caldwell recently committed $2.6 million as the cityâ??s share in some $9 million in projects to daylight Indian Creek, build a public plaza and several blocks of landscaped parking areas. Crapo first pledged his assistance during a tour of downtown with Mayor Nancolas in April of 2002.