November 6, 2023                                                                                 

PULLMAN, WA — The Downtown Pullman Association was awarded a $74,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Business Development Grant for two improvement projects aimed to create more attractive, usable and safe back entrances for some Main Street businesses.

The grant will cover the costs of installing much needed infrastructure and aesthetic improvements to an alley nestled behind the 200 block of East Main Street and planting eight trees in the parking lot off of Southeast Paradise Street. Both projects are designed to improve backdoor access to several downtown businesses, creating a viable alternative to storefronts and sidewalk space during the City of Pullman’s Main Street construction slated for 2024.

“Receiving this grant is a testament to what the Downtown Pullman Association exists to do — to create and sustain vitality in our historic downtown,” said Mallory Nash, Downtown Pullman Association executive director. “This project is a multifaceted solution to various challenges faced by our downtown businesses while enhancing the use of public space. It promises to bring accessibility and visual enhancements to our downtown core.”

Downtown Pullman Association Board Member, Bobbie Ryder initiated the application process in February 2023 with the association receiving notice of the award in late summer and the USDA finalizing it for public release this month. The Rural Business Development Grants program is a competitive award targeted at supporting efforts to develop or expand small businesses in rural areas with populations of less than 50,000. Grant funds can be used for the development of land, parking areas and utilities, building renovations, plants and for community economic development.

The 200 blocks on East Main Street were selected by the Downtown Pullman Association’s Design Committee — one of four working groups responsible for carrying out the organization’s mission to create and sustain vitality in downtown — because the spaces have back access to businesses that are often used as areas to pass through.

“Our goal is to create value-added, active and memorable spaces that provide customers with improved ways of experiencing the shops, bars and restaurants they normally frequent,” Ryder said. “Our hope is that they will bring friends and neighbors to these redefined attractive and engaging spaces. We are building new downtown gems.”

The downtown Pullman project scope involves installing a complete storm drain system in the alley positioned behind Cougar Plaza, located at the intersections of Grand Avenue and Olsen Street, and repaving a majority of the area to correct existing potholes and other tripping hazards. Pavers will be installed at the area’s core to create an outdoor patio area that will remain operational well after the Main Street construction concludes along with the addition of overhead café lights connecting the buildings with improved lighting and ambiance in the space.

Trees will be planted in a parking lot on the north side of the 200 SE block of Paradise Street, creating shade for outdoor seating and improving the overall aesthetics. Irrigation will be installed to help the newly-planted trees become established and café lights added to building rooflines to improve lighting and attractiveness of the outdoor space. The grant-funded work will be contracted with construction anticipated to begin at the project sites in the coming weeks.

“This project is about cultivating yet another hidden gem within downtown Pullman, where residents can savor a cup of coffee, enjoy a meal, safely access the back entrance of a business, and gives our organization an opportunity to host events in a space that was underutilized — all contributing to a richer and more inviting community experience,” Nash said.

In addition to the USDA grant, more than $20,000 of in-kind services are being provided for project management, design and paver installation with adjacent property owners contributing the paving bricks. The Pullman Civic Trust has also committed a total of $3,600 during the next three years to support ongoing watering and landscape expenses associated with the new trees and shrubs.

Identifying the project sites, applying for and securing the USDA Rural Businesses Development Grant, and executing the project is one of the Downtown Pullman Association’s many ongoing initiatives aimed at revitalizing downtown Pullman. The result of this work is expected to benefit more than 30 downtown businesses along with improving aging and failing infrastructure, customer safety, access, experience, and furthering the goal of creating and sustaining a thriving downtown community.