The Albert Lea City Council took the final steps Monday to approve grant funding for two downtown renovation projects.

The funding comes from the city’s Broadway Ridge Renewal Grant Fund, set up to encourage downtown redevelopment.

The fund provides a 50/50 match up to $50,000 for approved downtown building projects — primarily for facades.

The two projects approved for funding Monday were the Goldman, Sturtz & Halvorsen Law Firm, 137 N. Broadway Ave., and Youth for Christ’s The Rock, 116 W. Clark St.

According to city background information, the law firm project is estimated to cost about $52,500 and would thus be eligible for up to $25,000 because its facade is less than 900 square feet.

The Youth for Christ estimated project cost is $95,000 and is thus eligible for a grant of up to $50,000.

Proposals for both buildings included replacing the front lower portion of the facades with storefronts to match historical renderings and replacing the upper floor windows on the front of the buildings.

The projects are the second and third to be received for the Broadway Ridge Renewal Grant Fund, which was changed from a loan fund to a grant fund in February.

“I’m just excited to say we’ve now had three projects,” 2nd Ward Councilor Larry Baker said. “I look forward to seeing these projects when they’re completed.”

Dennis Bergstrom, with South Central Minnesota Youth For Christ, said the fund seemed like a “terrific fit” for them.

The organization worked with architect Pat Waddick to come up with their ideas.

In other action, the City Council:

• Adopted assessments for the work completed on 14th Street between Margaretha Avenue and South Broadway. The project involved the construction of stormwater, watermain, sanitary sewer and concrete roadway.

Total project costs were about $2 million with the Albert Lea Port Authority paying the entire cost of the project.

There is one assessment for about $120,000 that is being held for future assessment if the property develops in the next 15 years.

• Authorized the execution of a Minnesota Department of Transportation grant agreement for one of the last portions of the Albert Lea Municipal Airport project, which involves paving the taxiway and installing new lighting at the airport.

The project cost is about $1.6 million, with the federal portion being 95 percent and the city portion being 5 percent.

• Approved a request from the United Way to hold Keep the Fires Burning from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in the Northbridge Mall east parking lot.

The event is a fundraiser for the United Way.

• Approved a request from the American Legion Leo Carey Post 56 for a Veterans Day parade and program on Nov. 11.

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will go from the Legion building to the courthouse.

After the parade, a program will be held at the veterans memorial to honor the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.