LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Politicians have come up short trying to help Louisville’s West End in the past, but the latest budget invests $10 million for revitalization in the area.

“And the fact of the matter is that those economic deficiencies that you see that have led to vacant, for instance, and abandoned properties has exacerbated that situation,” state Sen. Gerald Neal (D-Louisville) said.

Neal and Rep. Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville) pushed a new effort to get some investment in the city’s poorest neighborhoods called the West End Opportunity Partnership.

“There are a lot of bright, smart people in West Louisville, a lot of talent, and now we get to demonstrate that,” Stevenson said.

A bill passed this year creates a new fund for improvement projects like remodeling some of the more rundown properties, and a new board to direct where the money goes.

“I don’t think there’s another model like this anywhere. I know there’s no model like this in Kentucky,” Neal said. “So I sum it up this way: this is a great opportunity if done right.”

Louisville Metro Council members signed off on a key part of the plan – a $10 million dollar investment included in the budget they passed Thursday.

“What the vote last night said is that the mayor and the Metro Council, they believe in the residents of West Louisville to make the difference for themselves,” Stevenson said.

The West End Opportunity Partnership involves what’s known as tax increment financing district — TIF for short — in West Louisville, which is basically a way to collect new tax dollars and set them aside for certain projects.

The board in control of the funds is made up of people from the nine different neighborhoods, making decisions about how to improve their own backyard.

“There’s going to be a complete transparency in terms of this piece,” Neal said. “This is not going to be a back-in-the-corner type of decision making.”

More still needs to happen, including a private fundraising campaign for $10 million dollars. Neal said the effort is well on its way, though.  

“That’s the process we’re engaged in now and we’re quite encouraged with the response that we’re getting,” Neal said. “We’re having inquiries that are coming even before it’s effective. We have individuals that are not only expressing their interest but their levels of commitment."

Once the West End Opportunity Partnership raises $10 million in private donations, the state will chip in another $10 million, meaning the initial investment will add up to $30 million.