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Trustees approve $100,000 SPARK small‑business facade grant program, open June 1 applications
Summary
The trustees approved up to $100,000 for a second round of the township's Small Business Revitalization Grant (SPARK), offering up to $10,000 per eligible local business for exterior facade improvements and setting application dates and program rules.
On May 13 the West Chester Township Board of Trustees approved a motion to fund a second round of the Small Business Revitalization Grant Program (SPARK) not to exceed $100,000, intended to reimburse small, locally owned businesses for exterior facade improvements.
Director Kanalopoulos and Michelle Kohn, economic development manager, presented the program details. Round two retains a maximum grant of $10,000 per project and lowers the employee threshold to businesses with 20 or fewer full‑time employees. The program is limited to privately owned local businesses; nonprofits were removed from eligibility. Applicants must submit two estimates and will receive reimbursement after project completion. Township staff said the first round’s $100,000 in grants prompted roughly $300,000 in total improvements.
Nut graf: trustees approved the program and staff’s proposed schedule and scoring process, including adding two community members to the grant‑scoring committee and staff support to help applicants through the process.
The board approved an application window from June 1 through Aug. 31, with the scoring committee meeting in September; staff proposed award announcements around Sept. 15. Trustees discussed appointing two community members to the scoring committee and staff recommended asking prior grant recipients from round one to serve as community reviewers. Michelle Kohn will facilitate the program and assist applicants.
Ending: The trustees approved the $100,000 program and directed staff to implement the application and scoring timeline; applicants will be able to submit starting June 1, 2025.
