--- ## title: Grant for Smith Coffee & Cafe ## author: Douglas Shumway date: D:20240501220600Z --- ## Item Report August 13, 2026 ## Housing & Redevelopment Authority ## Item Number: 7.2 Department: Community Development ## Item Activity: Action Prepared By: Bill Neuendorf, Economic Dev Mgr Item Title: SPARC Grant for WOLD, LLC dba Smith Coffee at 3948 W. 50th Street ## Action Requested: Approve grant agreement with WOLD, LLC and authorize staff to implement the terms therein. ## Information/Background: Staff recommends that the HRA Board award a SPARC Streamlined Grant to a local business to enable them to modernize an existing commercial space located at 3948 West 50th Street. The mother and son team of Ann and Alex Schuster have owned a local coffee shop for many years. Smith Coffee & Cafe intends to open a new location in the tenant space that had been occupied by D'Amico and Sons for many years. This space has been vacant since D'Amico's did not renew their lease in Spring 2026. . The business owners intend to completely refresh the space including modernization of the food preparation area to comply with current standards. The actual costs are higher than initially budgeted. Without the grant, they will not be able to move forward with the full scope of their business plan. A grant, up to $24,000 is recommended to offset a portion of their $400,000+ remodeling project. Grant funds will be issued after completion of the work and no later than 12/31/2026. The work is poised to begin immediately so that completion no later than November 2026 is possible. The grant eligible work includes $28,000 in costs to modernize the ceiling, plumbing and electrical systems in the food preparation area. The attached staff presentation summarizes the Streamlined Grant program and the proposed project. The business owner will be in attendance to answer questions about their business. ## Resources/Financial Impacts: No direct levy impact. The SPARC grant funds are sourced from previously collected incremental property taxes from commercial TIF Districts in Edina. The grant funds are not sourced from the general property tax levy. ## Relationship to City Policies/Plans/Budget Pillars: ## Comprehensive Plan, Amended Spending Plan for Unobligated TIF Funds ## Strong Foundation - The SPARC Program strives to strengthen the commercial tax base in Edina. ## Livable City - The SPARC Program strives to enable businesses to open and expand to better serve Edina residents as well as the broader market area ## Values Impact: ## Stewardship The SPARC Program invests previously collected monies to strengthen the commercial tax base, create jobs and enable businesses that serve the Edina community. ## Supporting Documentation: Documents marked with "Board Portal" do not meet ADA Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (URL) and are not included in the public packet. To request a board portal document, please submit a data request (URL). ## 1. Staff presentation SPARC Grant - Smith Coffee 8-13-2026 2. Edina SPARC Grant Agreement - WOLD LLC Smith Coffee 8-13-2026