By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Seven Decatur businesses have been announced as recipients of funds from the city’s annual Facade Program this year.
There were seven applicants this year and six of the seven will receive a facade grant for the exact amount they requested. The seventh business will be awarded just under what was sought.
The City of Decatur puts up $50,000 to be used in the program each year, and the requests are perused by the city’s community coordinator, Jamie Gephart, along with the design committee of the Decatur Main Street volunteer organization. They then make recommendations on what requests to fund.
Previously limited to downtown businesses, the program was expanded this year to businesses within the city limits. Any business can apply for up to $10,000 and the business must match the amount granted by the city.
“I’m glad to see we’ve stretched it out a little further this year,” Councilman Matt Dyer said.
Mayor Dan Rickord thanked Gephart and Decatur Main Street representative Max Miller – who attended the meeting and announced the recipients – for their efforts in going over the applications. Also members of the design committee who worked on the project were Jeremy Friedt, Jason Bird, and Corey Affolder.
One of the grants, to the downtown Next Page Bookstore & More, will provide an update to the mural that was painted on the store’s west wall to mark Decatur’s sesquicentennial (150 years) in 1986.
The mural has been deteriorating over the years. Rick Sovine, who along with his wife, Emily, own and operate Next Page, told WZBD.com recently that the mural will get a fresh look.
The current one says “Welcome to Decatur” and carries the dates of 1836-1986. The redone art work will simply say, “Welcome to Decatur. Established 1836.”
The seven recipients, their plans, and the amount requested and granted are as follows:
* Decatur Dental, vinyl siding and trim, $10,000.
* Decatur Daily Democrat, paint front of building, redo awning roof to metal, replace panels in sign, $5,409.
* Bush Investment Co., windows for 103 Third St., $7,495.
* Mirage Banquet Hall, paint exterior and sign installation, pave parking lot and porch, funding specific for paint and sign installation, $10,000.
* MR Planners, revamp structure, fix roof leak, replace north front entry door, $9,416 (requested $10,000).
* Next Page Bookstore & More, redo mural on west side of building, $3,230.
* Yvonne Marie’s, install metal roof to cover overhang, $4,000.
