The city will be seeking a grant to install some public art.

Portland City Council on Monday agreed to be the applicant for a grant to fund the installation of public art along Brick Alley.

Travis Richards of Jay County Development Corp. explained to council that Portland Main Street Connect would like to apply for a $5,000 Indiana Destination Development Corp. grant. It would be used to purchase and install frames on the north side of Community Resource Center along Brick Alley. The frames would be used to display art from local students that could be rotated on an annual basis.

He noted the Main Street group does not have a mechanism for accepting funds through a grant, so the city makes the most sense as the applicant. The application is due in May.

Arts Place president Mike Medler noted that the organization has been working with JCDC and the Main Street group on a cultural pathway grant and the Brick Alley project would be a positive toward that effort.

“It’s something that can improve the city across the board,” he said.

City council members Kent McClung, Janet Powers, Don Gillespie, Michele Brewster, Matt Goldsworthy, Dave Golden and Mike Aker voted unanimously in favor of the grant application. (Richards will coordinate the effort between the city and the various organizations involved.)
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