By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Three businesses and the Adams County Historical Society’s Dugan mansion/museum have received City of Decatur grants as part of the city’s annual facade improvement program.
Prestige Realty, Sorinna’s Bakery and Ball Physical Therapy and Performance are the businesses which will benefit from the program.
The announcement of the recipients was made at the recent city council meeting by Community Coordinator Jamie Gephart.
She said the facade fund – $25,000 is set aside for it each year – was able to grant all four requests as the grants come to a combined $19,816.
Decatur Main Street’s design committee and board, and the city’s redevelopment commission, handle the initial steps of the program. Final approval must come from city council, which readily gave its okay at the council meeting.
The program drew high praise from Mayor Dan Rickord.
When various consultants visit Decatur, “they all say how nice the downtown looks,” he said. “And a lot of the credit for that goes to this program.”
The program provides matching funds for facade improvements at local businesses.
To qualify for funding a business must be primarily located within the city limits of Decatur and contribute to the city’s economy. It must be independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field on a national basis and employ under 50 people.
For the first 10 years, the program was available only to businesses in the downtown area. Now, however, it has been expanded to all businesses which operate primarily within the city limits.
A business may seek a grant of up to $10,000 and the city will match the requested amount. Lesser amounts may be sought.
THE FOUR: Following are the recipients, their grants and their plans:
* Museum: $201 to paint porch column and front of annex building in rear.
* Prestige Realty: $10,000 to replace windows and slate metal siding.
* Sorinna’s Bakery: $1,000 for a lighted sign.
* ABC Rental Properties for Ball Therapy building, $8,615 for paint, repairs, lighting for front entrance, new front door, etc.
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