The Railside District is an approximately 42-block area in downtown Grand Island.
The Railside Business Improvement District is a public/private partnership in which property owners elect to make a collective contribution to the maintenance, development and promotion of their commercial district, according to Railside’s website. It is dedicated to improving and reinforcing existing assets within the district while also encouraging new investment by developing a stronger sense of place within both the local and regional community.
The district coordinates Railside Christmas and the annual Spirit Tours, and also helped make the festoon lights in downtown Grand Island possible, according to Railside Executive Director Sherry Siwinski. The district performs landscaping and groundskeeping duties, while also working with new businesses on rental assistance to “help get them off on the right foot.”
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“There’s just a vast array of things we do,” Siwinski said. “Just keeping an eye on the district making sure things are clean, make sure people feel safe when they come down here.”
The Railside budget comes from fees paid by everyone within the district.
On Thursday, March 21 the district hosted a stakeholder meeting.
The meeting was “a chance for people to come and see what we have in the works, what we’re doing. And ask questions of the board and give their input,” Siwinski said.
The board will have a retreat in April to discuss the feedback and decide, “OK, where do we go from here?”
Coming up, the district will host a Downtown Development Tour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6. Featured buildings include the Beltzer Building, Easy Street Apartments, Yancy Apartments, Big Red Treats, Artisan’s Alley, Helium Salon, Create 308, Olive & Grace Bridal, Kiko’s Cantina and The Venue at Railside.
“This is a chance for people to come down and see what people have done with the various businesses we’re highlighting,” Siwinski said. “See what they’ve done to refurbish those spaces, revitalize those spaces.”
Those business owners and others have done a good job, “respecting the historical significance of the building, highlighting that but yet bringing it up to current day to give that modern, hip vibe.”
For prospects looking at Railside, it’s a chance to see, “What are some things other people have accomplished. To see what’s available and what’s possible.”
The rental assistance program features an application and helps offset costs during the first months.
“We’ve found that the vast majority of those businesses, if they can get a little bit of extra help in the beginning, they’re still here five, 10 years down the road,” she said. “We want to create that sustainability.”
The City of Grand Island, CRA, and Grow Grand Island have all made substantial contributions in support of Railside. Other private and public donations were also important in completion of various projects, according to Railside.
The district also features Amur Plaza, “located in the heart of the historic Railside Business Improvement District” it’s “the perfect site for outdoor concerts, festivals, and celebrations,” according to the district.
The district will host its Sculpture Walk again this year.
“What’s really cool is that art changes out every year,” Siwinski said.
She noted the district is also looking to revamp and improve the music that’s piped into downtown Grand Island.
The future
The Railside Business Improvement District has teamed with the Fourth Street Business Improvement District to achieve Creative District designation from the state.
A Creative District is a “well-defined geographic area with a high concentration of creative resources and activities. These districts seek to help communities by boosting their creative economy, enhance vitality, improve livability, as well as increase educational and creative opportunities for residents and visitors.”
Districts are awarded a $10,000 Certification Grant once they receive the five-year designation. Certified districts are also eligible to receive a Creative District Development Grant, which goes up to $250,000.
In February 2022, an ad hoc committee formed to plan a Creative District for the city. After a year and a half of doing just that, the committee told the Grand Island City Council of their Grand Island Creative District plan during the council’s meeting on Dec. 12.
“There’s been a lot of work put into it and a lot of great ideas,” said Dana Jelinek of the Grand Island Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s all stuff that’s good for the community.”
The boundary for the Grand Island Creative District will compose of both the Railside and Fourth Street BIDs. According to Ryan Hand, a member of the board of directors for the Railside BID, the goal of a Grand Island Creative District is to attract people from outside the area, while showing off the city’s diversity and what it has to offer.
“Now it’s in the process of putting together another committee or board to oversee that,” Siwinski said, noting it’ll be comprised of representatives from both districts, city officials and others. From there, they’ll seek additional grant funding for projects.
“That’s all new territory,” Siwinski said.
PHOTOS: Beautiful bald eagle stops for a snack in Grand Island
In a chance encounter, this bald eagle flew overhead with with its lunch, before landing at a lake at Shady Bend Road and Highway 30 Friday morning.
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In a chance encounter, this bald eagle flew overhead with its lunch before landing at a lake at Shady Bend Road and Highway 30 Friday morning.
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