Old businesses and new businesses, council hears from both

The old Arabian Motel got a new lease on life as an extended stay complex named Red Door Rentals, complete with an in-house coffee house, The Daily Grind.

At the Oct. 16 Kimball City Council meeting the building’s owner, Terri Dyer, sought, and was granted, $3,873.50 in facade improvement funds to complete the signage, awning, outdoor lighting and windows. These funds will also go towards a drive-thru window for the coffee house.

The amount requested totals half the amount needed to complete the desired work and is available through the Kimball Business Facade Improvement Grant, funded by LB840 funds.

In addition to the new business in Kimball, a longtime local business that is under new ownership was also discussed during the council meeting.

Chute # 7 Bar and Cafe, formerly known as Good Times Bar and Grill, addressed the council seeking approval to be a local Keno Lottery Outlet.

New owner, Alex Engstrom, was granted the request and will continue providing Keno at the local establishment.

“We need all the Keno money we can get,” council member Kim Baliman said prior to moving to accept the application, which was approved unanimously.

The Kimball Event Center will, once again, act as a business incubator with a lease approved by council for Stacey Bolin. Bolin plans to open her business, Ukandu Crafts, in the Fawn Room early in November.

“She has talked to several property owners in the area and none of them have (responded) for a pop up shop,” Special Projects Coordinator Amy Sapp said. “She is wanting to possibly purchase a property to start her own shop here. We thought this would be a business incubator through the holidays to see if the community is open to it.”

Economic Development funds are available to citizens as well as business owners, with the Property Improvement Grant, approved by council in August 2017.

Steve and Amy Nelson were the first citizens to apply for the Property Improvement Program grant, the purpose of which is to acquire vacant property to build upon or to maintain as vacant thereby increasing property values.

The Nelsons sought $5,000 in grant money to help fund the demolition of an abandoned house adjacent to their own. The structure is no longer fit to live in and it contains asbestos that must be remediated.

Council granted the funding and the Nelsons plan to build a garage on the property once the existing structure is safely demolished.

This grant is available too for those who wish to build workforce housing in the area as well. The lack of workforce housing is often sited as one reason companies won’t build in or expand into the Kimball area.