MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
MAYOR RELEASES FUNDS FOR SECOND ROUND OF COMMERCIAL FAÇADE GRANTS
Popular Program Makes Assistance Available to Commercial Property Owners in Waynedale Corridors and Throughout Community
I would like to invite business and commercial property owners in designated areas to apply for the 2010 Commercial Façade Grants that offer matching money for exterior improvement projects. I have released more funds for this popular program launched last year.
Since before I was elected, I’ve had a commitment to “strengthening the heart” of our community. I remember the days when many of our commercial corridors were thriving areas of business and activity. I want the City to do what it can to help the business owners who’ve invested in these areas achieve that level of success once again. We don’t always have a lot of control over decisions made by large employers about locating or expanding in our community, but these small business owners have made a commitment and an investment and we can leverage some opportunities to help them grow.
The commercial façade grant program makes funds available to offset the costs of facades, signage, lighting, awnings, parking improvements, decorative fencing and other enhancements owners want to make to their property. The City has designated $200,000 for this round of the grant program. The grant is usually leveraged in a dollar-to-dollar ratio, so each dollar of public funding is met with a minimum of $1 of private investment.
In the first round of funding, the matching amount of the grant was expected to be about $20,000. The program was so successful that I doubled the original $200,000 set aside to fund it to $400,000. Twenty-six projects representing about $1.5 million in investment resulted.
All projects have to be located in City Council-designated economic development target areas (EDTAs), with many commercial areas in Waynedale in the designated area. An EDTA map is available at the City’s website.
The average matching amount of the grant is again expected to be about $20,000, but larger projects may qualify for more assistance. Administered through the Redevelopment Department, the grant applications are available November 13 to December 18 at the City-County Building and online. Property and business owners who meet the criteria will be able to apply for funds that will likely help them with spring construction projects.
Applications are available from the Redevelopment office and online in the next few weeks. Businesses with questions or wanting more information may call Julie Sanchez at 427-2147.
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