MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
MAYOR ENCOURAGES BUSINESSES TO APPLY FOR COMMERCIAL FAÇADE GRANT PROGRAM
Assistance Available to Commercial Property Owners in Eligible Corridors Throughout the Community including Waynedale
I’d like to encourage business and commercial property owners in Waynedale to consider applying for the City’s new Commercial Façade Grant program that I recently announced.
When I was running for mayor, I talked about my desire to “strengthen the heart” of our community. I wanted to make opportunities available to property owners in designated corridors that would help make every corner of our community commercially attractive for investment and commerce. The new program will make funds available to offset the costs of facades, signage, lighting, awnings, parking improvements, decorative fencing, and other exterior enhancements to their property.
The average matching amount of the grant is expected to be about $20,000, but larger projects may qualify for more assistance. Administered through the Redevelopment Department, the grant applications will be available starting November 14 both in the City-County Building and online.
Property and business owners who meet specific criteria will be able to apply from November 14 to December 19, 2008 with funds likely to help them with spring construction projects. Projects must be located in City Council-designated economic development target areas (EDTAs), including sections of Waynedale along Bluffton and Lower Huntington roads. An EDTA area map is available at the city’s website.
The ideal grant program of this type finds the intersection of what the business community, the neighborhoods and the City all deem important. We’ve identified areas where we want to support redevelopment, and where neighborhoods have told us they’d like to see more done to support businesses. A good example is the Broadway corridor where business owners have come together to work as a team, identifying a vision they have for this area, and we are proud to offer support and assistance to help make the vision a reality for all involved.
Applications will be available from the Redevelopment office on the 8th floor in the City-County Building and online in the next few weeks. The guidelines to the program are available by going to www.cityoffortwayne.org, clicking on the Community Development link, then Redevelopment and finally the Commercial Programs and Assistance link. Businesses with questions or wanting more information may call Julie Sanchez at 427-2147.
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