Dawsonville DDA approves $5,000 grant to El Rio to cover exterior upgrades

The City of Dawsonville Downtown Development Authority on Jan. 28 approved a $5,000 grant to El Rio, a long‑standing downtown restaurant, to help reimburse exterior renovation work already completed.

The grant request was presented by Jorge Sanchez, owner of El Rio. Sanchez told the DDA he has operated the restaurant in the community for more than 20 years and that the recent work "upgrad[ed] the outside of the restaurant to make it look better for, the community and the restaurant, of course." Mayor Mary Wright and Downtown Development Director Amanda Edmonson confirmed the DDA had about $5,000 remaining in the grant pot for the year; the board was told the restaurant project’s total cost was $21,500 and that the work had already been finished.

The board voted to approve the request. Dwight Gilliland made the motion to award $5,000; Jonathan Campbell seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote; a roll‑call tally was not recorded in the minutes.

Board members praised the appearance and safety improvements. One member said the new accent lighting made the building "pretty" when passing in the morning. Sanchez said the family has deep ties to the business and the community and that he purchased the building last year.

The DDA did not attach additional conditions to the award at the meeting and staff said the grant funds available for the year would be exhausted by the award. Edmonson and the board discussed the DDA’s protocol for future grant requests and noted no other immediate applications had been filed.

The DDA next agenda item moved on after congratulating Sanchez and confirming follow‑up as needed.