City staff told the council June 24 that the Cortland Plaza project has received $1,033,700 to date and is at a stage where the city can solicit construction bids while continuing to pursue additional grants and local fundraising.

Staff said the major grant award — cited in the packet as roughly $700,000 — requires that the city raise 30% in local support by Dec. 31, 2025. Staff explained local support can come from many sources, including private foundations, local donations, and city-controlled TLT funds; staff noted a $200,000 contribution from PLT would qualify as local match.

Several foundation applications are in process or planned: the Roadhouse Foundation (invited to apply in July), Corbett Family/Corebound Family Foundation (planned for the fall) and the Collins Foundation. Staff said the remaining estimate beyond secured funds is approximately $300,000 and that a contingency is included in the budget estimate.

Given the current receipts and the contingency, staff recommended beginning the bidding process to obtain firm construction costs while continuing to pursue the outstanding grants and local fundraising. Councilors asked about legacy fundraising items and how relocated elements of the project would be handled; staff said the project team is evaluating potential visible locations within the community for relocated components.

There was no council motion tied to additional spending at the June 24 meeting; staff will return with bid results and grant decisions as they develop.