Small Win's Big Vision! The revitalization of the ten downtown blocks in Jenks.

As we walk through the heart of downtown, we're delighted by the emergence of new dining establishments like The Lodge, City Hall Steakhouse, The Social, and Pure Market and Kitchen, slated for an October debut. This progress brings to mind the early days, prior to the launch of any of these ventures, and highlights the extensive effort and teamwork involving property owners, taxpayers, and The Ten. The majority of this undertaking and cooperation occurred behind the scenes, fueled by considerable dedication, calculated risks, and forward-thinking.

City Hall Steak Jenks

Most of our followers have never heard of the Jenks Economic Development Authority (JEDA) because prior to The Ten in 2023, JEDA's benefit had never been successfully marketed as a recruitment tool or for the incentive that it truly is, a powerful mechanism designed to attract and retain businesses, thereby fostering significant economic growth and development within downtown. This strategic approach, or lack thereof, meant that the substantial advantages offered by JEDA remained largely unknown and underutilized, failing to capitalize on its potential to drive prosperity and create new opportunities for Jenks residents and businesses alike.

So what is JEDA, it is a multi million dollar tax payer funded incentive package specific to the downtown area, which The Ten discovered in 2023 that only a few thousand dollars of the fund had been used althogh it was available to all downtown business applicants. The Ten co-founder Shea Roach who has a financial background reached out to city leaders like City Councilor Kevin Short to inquire about the unused funds and the lack of JEDA's utilization. Through those conversations Shea presented, in May of 2023, a plan to the city council to re-engage the JEDA program and make it more accessible to businesses, and made the case that other downtowns have had success with similar programs.

The city council was receptive to Shea's proposal, and after further discussion and refinement, they approved a revamped JEDA program. This new iteration of JEDA included streamlined application processes, clearer eligibility criteria, and focused on restaurant recruitment because The Ten consumer feedback and data indicated this was the desire of Jenks residents. The Ten increased marketing efforts to ensure businesses were aware of the available support. The goal was to mirror the successes seen in other cities, such as:

• Weatherford, Texas: The city council launched a Downtown Restaurant Incentive Policy to attract new and unique restaurant concepts.

• St. Louis, Missouri: Economic development groups created a $350,000 incentive program that includes grants for interior improvements, a sidewalk café program, and a rent guarantee program for new tenants.

• Tulsa, Oklahoma: The Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation's Kitchen 66 offers shared commercial kitchen space and training programs for aspiring food entrepreneurs. The city also has a Downtown Development and Redevelopment Fund.

• Modesto, California: Their downtown incentive program offers occupancy incentives, such as cash for new businesses and sales and mill tax refunds for the first year

Restoring an old downtown building is surprisingly costly and difficult to budget for a restaurant, and often, it's more financially sound to construct a new, standardized 5- to 10-story building instead. However, this is precisely where The Ten's vision and strategy shines, as we are dedicated and determined to revive the charm and character of the historic buildings in downtown Jenks.

Restored Downtown Building In Central Texas

So all of the new downtown restaurants were a long shot without the development, and the marketing around what we call "the kitchen incentive" using JEDA funds. Now for conservative minded taxpayers who fund this, which we are, any incentive needs to be measured, risks mitigated, and with a clear return, which is exactly what the Jenks Oklahoma kitchen incentive is: a Commercial Kitchen Grant (CKG) program for restaurants in the downtown core, established by the Jenks Economic Development Authority (JEDA). The program is designed to attract new restaurants by making the cost of adding commercial kitchens to older buildings more economically feasible.

Key features of the grant program Purpose: The CKG program was created to encourage restaurant development and help turn downtown Jenks into a dining destination. Pilot program status: The program was initially approved as a temporary pilot and was limited to three applicants. Eligibility: To qualify, projects must be located in the downtown core, which is defined as the area along Main Street between the railroad tracks and 3rd Street. Grant award: The CKG offers a grant of up to 90% of eligible costs, with a maximum award of $250,000. Eligible costs:

The funding covers expenses specific to commercial kitchen improvements and permanently attached commercial-grade kitchen equipment, such as: Ventilation and hood systems Plumbing and electrical systems Fire suppression systems Walk-in refrigeration Cooking equipment Recipient requirements: Both the property owner and the tenant must apply jointly. If the property is sold within 24 months of receiving the grant, the full amount must be repaid. Funding timeline: JEDA disburses funds as reimbursement to the applicants at 20% and 100% completion of the project, after the applicants have paid invoices.

The caveat is that if you are a building owner, you must agree to a lien on the building until the kitchen, which is considered a fixed asset of the building, is fully repaid to the taxpayer. Consequently, the risk for the taxpayer is minimal to none, offering a clear and quantifiable return, and providing a significant incentive to attract exceptional downtown restaurants to our historic buildings within the ten downtown blocks. This presents a mutually beneficial situation, promoting economic development while safeguarding the distinctive charm of our historic downtown area.

Group Learns About Incentives

The program is designed to be a win-win, fostering business growth and preserving the unique character of downtown Jenks. This initiative not only supports local entrepreneurs but also enhances the overall appeal and vibrancy of the community. By attracting diverse culinary experiences, the program and The Ten vision aims to create a more dynamic and engaging environment for residents and visitors alike. This, in turn, is expected to drive increased foot traffic and economic activity, further solidifying downtown Jenks as a premier destination.

This incentive and strategy, however successful, shouldn't be overshadowed by those private investors who are also investing in the downtown area outside of these taxpayer incentives, and to date, private investment has far exceeded the normal ratio between private versus public investment, demonstrating a strong market validation. This is a testament to the confidence that private entities have in the future of downtown Jenks, as evidenced by their willingness to commit significant capital without the direct benefit of these specific public programs.

At The Ten, we believe that concentrating on small achievements, such as enhancing incentives, marketing, landscaping, lighting, and streetscapes, collectively leads to a significant impact.