The Reedsport Main Street Program has announced small matching grants to improve the look of businesses in the city.
The launch date for the Facade Improvement Program is April 15.
“This program is under the umbrella of the Main Street Program,” said Emesha Jackson, who is coordinating the Main Street efforts. “This is a program that a lot of successful Main Street communities have implemented to credible results.”
The grants will be available to all sectors of the city — the “downtown” area, the midtown area and the so-called “uptown” area above the Scholfield Creek Bridge.
“It’s a matching grant program,” Jackson said. “It’s intended to stimulate improvements to commercial buildings by offering this matching grant in all three commercial districts in Reedsport.”
Jackson said the grants will be offered to business and property owners along Highways 101 and 38. Applicants must supply at least half the cost of the proposed improvement, and the program will match that amount.
“It would not apply, unfortunately, to businesses and storefronts located off the main highways,” she said.
“The goal is to improve the business districts,” Jackson said. “Visual appearance through rehabilitation and restoration of building storefronts and facades using appropriate and complimentary design standards.”
Jackson gave some examples.
“The criteria for this program would apply to awnings, sign removal or replacement, paint, trim, door replacement, window replacement, landscaping, even lighting,” she listed.
The program has $23,000 in funding, some of which it received from the city’s urban renewal fund.
“They donated $15,000 toward this project,” Jackson said. “We were limited to the urban renewal district, which ends at the bottom of the Scholfield bridge. We sought out additional funds through organizations such as the Lower Umpqua Economic Development Forum, the port, Rotary, the hospital and we also got donations from community members to match that, so we can provide the same grant opportunities for the uptown district, as well.”
She said there’s no minimum amount for which a business can apply. For example, she said, someone who wanted to buy a $600 sign could get $300 in grant funds.
They’re also accepting in-kind contributions for a business’ portion of the grant. That means business owners could paint their own storefront and receive credit.
“The maximum amount is $2,500 per grant,” Jackson said. “We’re looking at $5,000 potential projects … facade improvement projects around the community. What we tried to do with the $23,000 was spread that evenly through all three districts. We’re looking at just under $7,700 per district.”
Information on the program is available at the city of Reedsport website. Go to the Main Street Program for details.
Applications will not become available until the launch date of April 15. After April 15, the application will be available on the city’s website or can be picked up at Reedsport City Hall.
Originally Published in The Umpqua Post
2741 Frontage Road
Reedsport, Oregon 97467
Phone: 541-271-7474