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Council approves Onancock Main Street grant matches for marketing and downtown investment
Summary
Onancock Town Council approved two grant-match requests from Onancock Main Street: a $20,000 match (1:1) for a Virginia Tourism Commission marketing grant and a $25,000 match (2:1) toward a Downtown Investment Grant, the latter intended to leverage $75,000 for downtown improvements; the motion passed 4-2.
Onancock Main Street asked the council to approve matching funds for two grant opportunities and council voted to approve the request.
The group requested a $20,000 town match for a Virginia Tourism Commission marketing grant that would bring $40,000 for marketing, and a $25,000 town match for the Downtown Investment Grant (DIG), which operates on a 2:1 match and would yield $75,000 for downtown projects. "We are asking this year that the town allocate $25,000 as the 2 to 1 grant match, which would give us a total of $75,000 to spend back in our district," the Onancock Main Street representative said.
Councilors discussed program specifics, allowable uses such as hardscaping and facade updates, retailer involvement, and deadlines (VTC due March 13; DIG due April 25). One councilor expressed concern about approving funds without a finalized project list; the Main Street representative said she would return in March with more specifics. The council voted; the chair announced the motion "passes 4 to 2." The representative said she would bring detailed plans to the council next month.
Next steps: staff and Main Street will finalize a project plan for the DIG and the marketing grant; Main Street will return with detailed budgets and program design before funds are spent.
