MITCHELL — The Main Street tax district has allocated more funds for improving the exteriors of businesses in Mitchell, and now it just needs applications.
The Mitchell Main Street Business Improvement District (BID) No. 3 Board met on Wednesday, Aug. 27 at City Hall to consider awarding a grant to the single applicant for business facade improvements and to discuss the future use of funds within the BID district.
After coming out of more than an hour-long executive session, the board approved 2026 budget funds, including $10,000 for BID No. 3 board projects, $21,000 for reserves, and $74,000 for the grant program for street facing improvements of Main Street businesses. About $40,000 was left in 2025 bid funds after paying for streetscape improvement and were rolled over into the 2026 budget.
Previously, the board had a goal of 50% spent on streetscape improvements and 50% spent on the grant program. As the Main Street streetscape projects come to an end, more funds have been freed up. The new budgeted number brings allocated funds up to about 70% toward exterior improvements of businesses along Main Street.
“Now we’re able to allocate the majority of that right back into the business owners to help them with their building exterior renovations,” Mitchell Main Street and Beyond Executive Director Elizabeth Luczak said.
The board awarded $8,800 for a single applicant on Main Street, who is also a BID No. 3 board member. Matt Doerr requested $10,000 from the board, the maximum allowed by the BID application, for brick repairs, patchwork, and painting at 118 N. Main St., which is the old Charlie’s Shoe Repair shop. The board denied funds toward an American Disabilities Act-compliant door in the back of his building, but funded the brick and painting upgrades. Doerr abstained from the vote.
Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
Luczak told the Mitchell Republic that she’s received more interest for the next round of grant awards, but that fall is a busy time for small business owners on Main Street.
“So we actually have a lot of people interested in it, they just didn’t want to apply this fall. They are just wanting to do the projects in 2026,” Luczak said.
Applications for BID No. 3 property improvement grants are open Jan. 1 through Jan. 31, 2026.
“Everyone that’s in the BID No. 3 district is welcome to apply for any exterior improvements,” Luczak said.
This year, the last of the planned streetscape improvements for Main Street between Railroad and Seventh Avenue will be completed. The city has completed the Fourth Avenue and Main Street intersection streetscape improvements while the Second Avenue and Main Street intersection are still ongoing at this time. In addition, the city is relocating the lights at the First and Seventh avenues on Main Street after repeated hits by semi trucks.
“We want to allocate more into the grant program to help our downtown business owners, while having that $10 grand for next year, to help bring in infrastructure that benefits as a whole,” Luczak said.
Luczak hopes to announce more projects publicly at the Feb. 2026 BID No. 3 meeting.
The total amount spent on streetscapes improvements since the BID’s inception was $149,000. In that same timeframe, the board awarded $144,000 in grants to Main Street businesses to fix tuck pointing, update windows, roofs, and other improvements.
Seventy-seven commercial properties on Main Street are assessed each year and pay into the BID No. 3 fund. Main Street businesses have utilized awarded grant funds for improvements 35 times since 2020, with several of the same businesses applying and being awarded funds.
The BID No. 3 Tax District is funded through a special tax. Commercial property owners within the district pay an assessment tax of $5 per $1,000 of the assessed valuation by Davison County. For example, if a property in the district boundaries has an assessed valuation of $75,000, the respective property owner would pay $375 per year for the special assessment tax.
The BID No. 3 tax district renewed for another seven years in June. The city never received a petition to dissolve BID No. 3, according to Mitchell Finance Officer Michelle Bathke.
The Mitchell City Council will hold a hearing to consider a resolution for levying 2025 special assessments for properties included in the BID No. 3 at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 at 612 N. Main Street. The city’s public notice states that the council will “hear any protests and receive evidence for or against the proposed action” and that “ruling(s) shall be final.”
Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can’t wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.
