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Council approves $600,000 façade grant plan, votes to allocate larger share to downtown
Summary
Council adopted Option 2 for distributing a newly increased $600,000 façade-improvement grant program: $180,000 for the downtown central business district and $105,000 for each of the city's four wards. Council also directed staff to intensify outreach and to return with application tallies at the Feb. 17 meeting.
The East Point City Council voted to adopt Option 2 for distributing $600,000 in façade-improvement grants, directing $180,000 to the downtown central business district and $105,000 to each of the city's four wards.
Macio (Macio Rogers) and staff presented a recommended distribution framework that prioritized economic impact, equity among wards, visual community appeal and urgency. Staff outlined two distribution models: a downtown-heavy option (Option 2) giving downtown $180,000 and $105,000 per ward, and an alternative with $200,000 for downtown and $100,000 per ward. Council voted for the $180k/$105k split.
Council discussion focused on outreach to business owners and plaza managers in all wards, a 25% matching requirement for applicants, minimum project thresholds and a desire to ensure the city could document broad notice citywide. Staff said the application launch and outreach would include social media, a city newsletter, a posted map of downtown boundaries, distribution of flyers, targeted emails to businesses on file and in‑person distribution downtown and at plazas; staff committed to produce a formal communications plan and to report back.
Tally and motion: Council member Straubshire moved to adopt Option 2; Council member Mitchell seconded. Roll-call votes recorded in the meeting transcript were: Shropshire — Yes; Ack/Ekets — No; Ziegler — No; Cummings — Yes; Mitchell — Yes; Butler — Yes; Martin Rogers — Yes. The motion carried.
Next steps: Staff will launch outreach (recorded meetings and in-person sessions were scheduled), post application materials and collect submissions through a Feb. 14 deadline; an evaluation team will assemble Feb. 17 to review applications and report counts and recommended awards to council. Council also directed staff to return with a contingency plan should specific plazas not participate.
