MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
MAYOR ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF PROGRAM TO SPRUCE FACADES ACROSS CITY
Strong Response Yields More Funding for Projects
Earlier this month, I announced the recipients of the City’s first Commercial Façade Grant program with members of the business community along the North Anthony corridor.
These grants are the realization of one of my goals I had while running for mayor. I wanted the City to do all we can to “strengthen the heart” of our community, by making opportunities available to property owners in designated corridors to help them make their businesses more attractive for investment and commerce.
The program made funds available to offset the costs of facades, signage, lighting, awnings, parking improvements, decorative fencing, and other enhancements owners may wish to make to their property. We know that these kinds of projects are probably not something the property or business owners would have done without the additional funding.
The average matching amount of the grant was expected to be about $20,000. The program was so successful that the original $200,000 set aside to fund it was doubled to $400,000 at the mayor’s request. Projects had to be located in City Council-designated economic development target areas (EDTAs), several of which exist throughout the city.
As I said in my State of the City address, where we had hoped to make this a dollar-for-dollar matching grant program, our local businesses really stepped up and the end result is a 3 to 1 private-public funding—-21 projects and $1.2 million investment. Soon, work will begin on several corridors and gateways that is so much more than cosmetic: it’s the economics of the “first impression.” When visitors come to Fort Wayne, they will see attractive business districts, and the message that sends is powerful. It says, “Things are happening in Fort Wayne. Business is good in Fort Wayne.” That’s what we want our visitors—and our residents—to know.
The original $200,000 would have funded eight of the requested projects; by doubling that fund, we almost tripled the number of improvements to 21 projects have been approved. The internal committee evaluating the projects thought the additional funds would help make an even greater corridor impact, offer greater leveraging with existing City projects, and provide a local economic stimulus for business.
I am committed to being a partner with our business community. The City of Fort Wayne and Small Business Administration Resource Partners will offer a free workshop on how to manage a small business in a recession Thursday, March 19 at the City-County Building. It will be 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Omni Room on the second floor of the City-County Building.
It is targeted to current small-business owners who are facing challenges from the economic downturn. The presenters are SCORE members Bill Causey, Al Kruetzman, Craig Miller, Les Baggett, Jack Dever and John Williams.
The other workshops planned for 2009 are:
•Market analysis resources, April 16
•New business start-up in a recession, May 21
•Pricing, June 18
•Small business showcase (tentative), July 16
•Taxes and record-keeping, Aug. 20
•New business start-up in a recession, Sept. 17
•Procurement, Oct. 15
•Patents, trademarks and copyright, Nov. 19
For more information about the workshops, visit www.cityoffortwayne.org.
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