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Economic development committee awards facade grants, prepares welcome packet and flags budget limits
Summary
The economic development committee reported three facade-grant awards (including a full $5,000 match for a downtown tenant building), work on a business welcome packet, and warned that facade funds for the year are nearly exhausted.
Councilman Andrew Carroll, reporting for the economic development committee, said the committee approved three facade improvement grants this month and is preparing a business welcome packet for new or prospective downtown businesses.
Carroll said 10 West Main Street (LMK properties) received a grant of about $1,800 for signage, 301 West Main Street (the railroad building) received a full $5,000 match for facade work tied to a new tenant, and McQuillan's at 1 West Main will use a grant for painting multiple storefronts. Carroll said other businesses may be eligible later depending on the scope of projects.
Carroll said the committee has started a marketing/welcome-packet subcommittee to highlight demographics, resources and incentives for new businesses and that the Local Business Alliance (LBA) continues to be well attended.
Carroll cautioned that, after these awards, the committee had exercised most of its $25,000 annual facade budget and future matches this calendar year would be considered cautiously; he asked council to consider additional funding during the borough budget process.
Other items discussed included work on façade-program language for possible ordinance edits, a potential mainstream-manager position in partnership with a local nonprofit (further meetings planned) and upcoming community events including a spring festival and main-street cleanup.
The committee recommended advancing approved grants for processing; those approvals came from the committee and will be administered consistent with program rules.
