Fort Wayne’s Legacy Joint Funding Committee met Thursday night for the first time since May of last year.
In order to receive legacy funding, a proposed project has to meet numerous requirements, including a creative and sustainable business model, prior experience with other large projects, and a minimum of 3-1 matched funding, among others. At the meeting councilman and committee member Geoff Paddock said that some of the legacy funds could be disbursed toward neighborhood improvement.
“Infrastructure improvements like lighting… curbs, sidewalks, maybe even some landscaping is something that I could support and I would hope that the other council members could support, too,” said Paddock. “Not big dollars; maybe a hundred thousand or so per year citywide could be quite a bit of help.”
With $6.2 million committed to projects like riverfront and trail development in 2016, the Legacy Fund is projected to have $37 million remaining by the end of the year.
No official measures were taken Thursday night, as the meeting served as more of an orientation for new members. Concept letters for legacy funding are due on April 1, and the first open discussion of possible projects will take place May 19.
