Livingston Receives $623K For Downtown

A state rebate produced some $623,000 for Livingston downtown revitalization efforts.

Downtown Revitalization Commission Chair Gene Gantt said the rebate allows the city to get a portion of their sales tax back each year. Gantt said that rebate funding must be spent on improvements to the city square or efforts to bring more people to the area to further increase their tax revenue.

“Back as far as 2018, our total was about $163,000,” Gantt said. “So we’ve gone from $163,000 to $623,000 in six short years. That’s quite an achievement, I think, for the city. A lot to be proud of for what work has happened.”

Gantt said the large increase is a clear sign of how well the city has done improving its downtown area. Gantt said they are currently discussing their options for new ways to improve the city with the extra money.

“There’s some projects we have on the drawing board that are not ready to be announced yet that after I get this budget prepared then I’ll be able to announce to the city council and ask for their approval to do,” Gantt said. “But a lot of the things like we have done over the years around Christmas in the Country, for example, we have rented things to come in and we may in the future look to purchase those things so that we don’t have to rent anymore and we can pay for them over time that way.”

Gantt said the rebate has been a key factor in multiple local projects including the formation of the Overton County Arts Council, the renovation of South Church Street, and the upcoming courthouse revitalization.

“We have made the last payment on our park,” Gantt said. “Downtown revitalization was responsible for the city park and that was one of the best investments we ever made.”

Gantt said Livingston has been receiving this grant each year since 2005 after a private act bill was passed facilitating the program.

“It was extended until 2028 but we have not been successful to get it past that,” Gantt said. “The main reason being that it was so successful everybody in the state wants to do it and I understand that.”