The City of Mandan received a belated Christmas gift from its own city commissioners at their last meeting of the year Tuesday.

The city commissioners approved designating $250,000 from the city's Growth Fund account to aid in the redevelopment of downtown. Two weeks ago, the Growth Fund board members and city commission received a report from URS Corp., a Milwaukee engineering firm, that presented a concept for regenerating downtown Mandan into "the place to be." While the commission doesn't yet have an action plan for how to implement new development downtown, the Growth Fund committee decided allotting some of its money - which the city commission budgets about $250,000 each year for - to help them get started.

City Administrator Jim Neubauer said the money could be used to acquire or tear down property in the impact area.

The commission's lack of direction was a hot topic for the commissioners as they talked about the possible next steps Tuesday. They plan to hold a special meeting or retreat to hammer out the fine details soon.

In addition to boosting up their own coffers, the commission designated Growth Fund dollars to Bismarck State College for construction of its Career and Technology Institute. Mandan allocated $175,000 to be paid over four years with the requirement that BSC make a commitment to strengthen its presence in the city. Getting BSC - and its staff and students - to Mandan is one of the key aspects outlined in the city's new redevelopment plan.

Growth Fund money will also go to Coffee and Kitchens, a business currently in Bismarck that provides coffee and ice cream supplies and equipment. The business is relocating to Mandan and received a loan of $50,000 over seven years. The money comes with stipulations that the business stay in Mandan during the repayment period, and if they move out of town pay back the whole amount immediately.

The city of Hazen got a Growth Fund break on Tuesday night as well. Hazen Community Development received $25,000 in 1996 to help establish Noble Games Company there. However, the business failed, leaving Hazen Community Development with a debt of about $120,000. The organization's executive director, Duke Rosenthal, the city forgive about 50 percent of the debt. The Mandan Commission unanimously approved.

(Reach reporter Angie Buckley at 250-8255 or angiebuckley@ndonline.com.)