Project Narrative Template

Directions:
1. Complete all sections in this form. Even if a section is not applicable to your project, write
“N/A”. Do not leave any sections blank.
2. Provide succinct and complete responses in each section. Do not assume that the
application reviewer is familiar with your community. The Narrative should include all
pertinent information not already stated or explained sufficiently in other application
sections.
3. THIS FORM SHALL NOT EXCEED 15 PAGES. If you need additional space, you can
delete these directions, and the directions within each section below. Do not change the
font size in this form to include more information.
4. Save this form as a PDF and attach the PDF to your Smartsheet form application, in the
section “ATTACHMENTS” at the end.

1. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

This beautification and improvement project is located in the City of Brawley, CA, 13 mi. North of El
Centro and 127 mi. East of San Diego, in Imperial County. It is home to 25,900 people, and 6,960
families.

The improvements meant for the Main Street Corridor will be built upon original conditions from the
1970s. This includes updating existing facades with porches, missing signage or replacing those with
wear and tear, as well as renovating exteriors of empty buildings, in order to attract potential
businesses. Many active businesses are in need of the funding for signs to indicate that they are
indeed open for business. The lack of current signage is hindering downtown economic growth due to
the missing visual communication, creating confusion.

Main Street as it currently exists, prompts safety concerns as well as disinvestment, especially
amongst tourism crowds, who are deterred due to the dilapidated conditions.

Main Street is a thoroughfare, and destination for thousands of community members and tourists alike,
who are heading to the Imperial County Sand Dunes Recreational area for ATV riding in the cooler
months. In order for travelers to grab a quick bite to eat or drink there needs to be adequate visual
communication for those businesses. There are Google and Yelp reviews that indicate the difficulty
related to both signage and confusion.

The City of Brawley recognizes the significance of the Main Street Corridor for local community
organized events as well, which in recent years have had to relocate due to the deteriorating
conditions. The funding will transform existing businesses and buildings into a more vibrant and inviting
place for not only visitors but residents as well. It is one component of a long-term effort by the City to
envision a return to viewing the town of Brawley as a modern, inviting, and bustling hometown.

The Cattle Call Jamboree is a week-long community event that has attracted visitors from across the
Country to Brawley’s Main Street Corridor. The Jamboree includes a rodeo that is the last stop on the
professional rodeo circuit before the National Rodeo Finals in Las Vegas! It is the largest community
event that brings out both locals and tourists alike to all of the intersecting businesses that run along
and across Main Street.

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2. PROJECT MAP

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3. PHOTO OF EXISTING CONDITIONS AT PROJECT SITE(S)

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 4. DEMONSTRATED COMMUNITY NEED AND POTENTIAL OUTCOMES

Goal 1. Reduce the Amount of Waste and Debris

Currently, the types of waste and debris of concern are both from existing traffic as well as dilapidated
conditions and deterioration of buildings. Improving the conditions as well as adding new waste
disposal receptacles and influential signage for foot traffic will impart a clean experience for those
driving through and walking.

Anti-littering, high-visibility signage along with the proposed amenities will help bring a sense of
community pride to the area. It will also motivate patronage of the local businesses.

Litter-removal activities will be advertised to the community and organized in order to involve locals with
the project maintenance.

Goal 2. Beautify and Improve Public Space

Signage updates will enhance visual beauty, and enable effective communication for directions to
businesses, parking, and other spaces nearby. This includes pedestrian accessible pathways to all
businesses and from all parking or public transportation stops. There will also be new public restrooms
added, a neighborhood pride mural provided by local artists, and updated fenceline for safety near
areas of high pedestrian traffic and schools. The mural will provide a new splash of color to the
environment, while also offering a positive message from the community of Brawley. Murals and public
art are landscape decorations that can create a sense of social identity for a community, and adds to
the beauty for the surrounding parks, businesses, bus stops, and walking paths.

Existing conditions on the Main Street Corridor are reflective of general deterioration over time that the
buildings and facilities have experienced without proper maintenance. The local fire department
building is a good example of the cleanliness and appearance goals for the rest of the project. The
conditions are aging infrastructure, deteriorating structures, property vandalism, and misuse of public
spaces. Underlying conditions of concern are regarding building security and removal of signs of
vandalism and litter. Reports of pests are common in unused business buildings, which can lead to
damage of electrical and irrigation equipment and infrastructure.

This has created an increased cost burden for the community at large, and has led to a void in
equitable and accessible services for businesses and residents. There is a high demand in the
community for safe, accessible, quality, and secure facilities for business and recreation. These
beautification elements will increase access and solve many of these challenges the community has
been facing.

The new public art installations will allow local artists and community members to showcase their
community and cultural pride. Surrounding the installations will be new groupings of shaded areas with
picnic accessible tables, and seating. Shade trees will also be placed along walkways, prioritizing
Native and drought-tolerant species. The new LED lighting will also be placed everywhere people will
be present, to provide a safe experience for residents and visitors as the light fades into evening during
the hot summer hours when folks tend to gather to escape the heat.

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Goal 3. Improving Public Spaces for Walking and Recreation

The current walking conditions are unfriendly, and the “Walkability Score” on walkscore.com for Main
Street is 53/100 and considered, “Somewhat walkable, some errands can be completed on foot.” Public
health concerns have driven local community events from Main Street in recent years, and tourism is at
an all-time low. In order to maximize business access and ease of use for walking and those with
disability access needs, improvements are required. Not only will this allow for community business and
economic building, but will also provide culturally relevant connections to the local and surrounding
areas.

Renovated public sidewalks, fencing, signage, and infrastructure will increase safe usage. Additionally,
the upgraded walkways and improvement of the existing areas will prevent and deter crime, pests,
vandalism, and littering. Health studies continue to show that contact with nature in urban areas,
including plants and trees in or near dense areas, has a positive impact on overall human and
community health.

LED lighting updates and increasing visibility throughout the Corridor will extend the hours of usable
availability for businesses and locals. New street accessible sidewalks will be added to complete the
access for businesses. Higher visibility creates a safer environment, which will be more welcoming to
those visiting from out-of-town and patrons of local businesses. Well-being for the community is
addressed with these renovations. Children and adults who participate in community recreational
activities and business consistently, especially during a post-pandemic period, may experience less
anxiety, boredom and negativity associated with the recent challenging economic times.

Goal 4. Advance Equity for Underserved Communities

The entire City of Brawley qualifies as an underserved community, according to US Census data. The
average individual income in 2020 was just over $19,500.00 per year, which is just over the Federal
Poverty Level of $13,600.00. Over 22% of families in Brawley are living below the Poverty Line. 50% of
individuals are on State Medicaid coverage for health insurance.

One of the internal underserved communities most impacted by accessibility concerns the community
with disability needs. More than 11% of individuals under the age of 65 are disabled. In order for those
with mobility concerns or those in need of clear visual aids to be able to be included in community
economy and events, these improvements will be necessary.

Residents who may be facing health conditions have had decreased access to the Main Street and
downtown area in general due to accessibility and lack of facilities. The community has experienced
progressively higher temperatures due to climate change, density, and poorer air quality as a result.
The effect of heatwaves on sensitive community members will be reduced by providing and building
shade structures and trees. Greening elements in locations throughout the project area will contribute
to mitigating the negative effects on members of the underserved communities located in Brawley.

Proposed improvements to enhance and upgrade facilities and infrastructure here will contribute to
basic quality of life concerns and issues related to creating a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment
for Brawley.

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 5. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Refreshing Brawley and improving the Main Street of the City will also increase patronage to
businesses located in the heart of the Community of Brawley. The project is designed as a mechanism
to stimulate and leverage local investment to enhance the appearance, functionality, and conditions of
structures in need. This supports local businesses significantly and can have an impact on the
attractiveness and marketability of the surrounding area.

As part of this project, the City has committed to working with business owners and properties located
within the Downtown Area by funding or arranging for contractors to make these improvements.
Projects excluded will be residential rental buildings, and structures not facing the right-of-way. Property
owners will then have new marketability for their economic growth potential. The scope is limited to
commercial and mixed-use facade improvements,

Marketing for this project will include press releases to go along with the Cattle Call Jamboree and
Rodeo, as the largest community event. Rodeo Event coverage will include local and national news, as
well as TV coverage for the National Rodeo Circuit. All the event sponsorship engagement and
community involvement will be directly involved with and benefit from the renovation and improvements
on Main Street.

The celebration and official launch of the project will be announced by the City of Brawley to the
community, and will include media coverage as well as informational pamphlets available at public
places like Libraries and businesses. Feedback from community members will be considered as crucial
input and included in maintenance and construction considerations.

Prior community input expressed recurring concerns which centered around safety, security,
accessibility, and poor overall conditions. Also, the need for parks, facilities, up-to-date infrastructure,
and multi-use areas not being used currently. There is a major focus on future event opportunities that
the community is motivated to take advantage of once available.

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 6. PROJECT DELIVERABILITY

The City of Brawley is currently working directly with the City Engineer to encompass and coordinate
any efforts that they are able to implement. For any needs outside of the ability of the City Engineer,
Brawley is working with a number of local artisans and contractors in order to provide beautification and
eye-catching signage that also supports the businesses directly in and around the project location.
Brawley also has the support of the local government and a Letter of Support in the form of a Local
Match Commitment in the amount of $50,000.00 for this project from the City Manager, Tyler Salcido.
With the support of these entities any permitting that needs to take place that is not already there will
be able to proceed without issue. Any and all completion dates and implementation of funds should be
able to directly proceed with the partnerships already established and by the required dates.
There are no known concerns for opening the renovated areas to the public and completion by June
30, 2024.
Pre-construction considerations regarding work required to deliver the project include design
completion, surveying, and would be completed with required permitting with the dedicated
commitment of the local government, and City Engineer.
A Site Plan will be required for each individual project included in the Main Street Corridor. All other
permits have been obtained.

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 7. MAINTENANCE PLAN

This project requires only standard maintenance that is already implemented throughout the City,
including waste disposal, litter removal, street cleaning, and any other regularly required cleaning. Any
additional building maintenance would be covered under the building leases, or with the building
owners.

Any low-maintenance, energy efficient, or environmentally conscious materials will be prioritized

whenever possible. Any local artists or contractors involved will be informed of the benefits to the
environmentally friendly and longer-lasting products like paint and lighting fixtures.

Properly maintained, the average lifespan for similar projects is at least 15 years. The City of Brawley
Parks and Recreation department will be responsible for some routine maintenance. The remainder of
the responsibility will be with Waste Management and the building owners/leaseholders of the local
businesses who submit plans for improvements to the project. Main Street is maintained in a
cooperative agreement through Public Works, they have their own independent budget. The other
budget is our group, the Parks and Recreation department.

Agreements for maintenance and repairs of art installations or murals will be organized with the
respective artists and those involved.

Selected trees and planted greenery additions will be drought tolerant, adaptive, and non-invasive;
requiring minimal maintenance naturally. Diversity of plant species will help to conserve water, and
protect precious natural resources, also requiring minimal fertilization and upkeep.

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