NEPG has recently secured final financing commitments and thelast piece of property needed for the project. It bought one parcelfrom the Northside Association for Community Development, whichspearheaded development of a Felpausch grocery store that opened inNovember 2003 a block away. The city's Brownfield RedevelopmentAuthority sold NEPG the remaining property in December for$12,000.

The strip mall will be built on an approximate 1.7-acre sitelocated on the northeast corner of Westnedge and North. Fivetenants—-a video store, tailor, restaurant, dollar store and creditunion—-have signed letters of intent to locate there, though leaseshave not been finalized, Burt says. Space remains for possibly twoor three more businesses, she says.

The city has committed $200,000 toward the project, including$100,000 from a federal Community Development Block Grant. Alsoincluded is a $100,000 loan from its Brownfield RedevelopmentAuthority. It will funnel the $12,000 in sale proceeds back intopublic improvements at and near the site.