Sprucing up the downtown
Business owners taking advantage of grant
Downtown building and business owners can apply for funds to make improvements to their store fronts. Photo by EMILY CANNING-DEAN
WADSWORTH – The city has nearly $300,000 in state funds to spend on improvements to downtown buildings over the next two years and a number of building and business owners are ready to take advantage of this opportunity.
The city was approved for the $300,000 in downtown revitalization grant funds through the Ohio Development Service Agency late last year. Medina County submitted the application on behalf of the city as part of Fiscal Year 2016 Community Development Block Grant program.
City Planner Jeff Kaiser reported at a March 2 economic development committee that the city has received seven grant applications from downtown business and building owners with one or two more pending.
“According to our consultants, five of the seven applications need more information so we will make the calls to get that,” Kaiser said.
Kaiser said applicants will soon receive a call from the consultant that is working with the city to administer the funds. The next step will be to send a rehab inspector out to the respective properties to take a look at the proposed improvements.
“We have enough interest to do projects on about 22 buildings over the next two years,” Kaiser said. “If we could get seven to 10 done by early summer and another three or four in the fall or early winter, that would be a good start.”
Kaiser said any business or building owner within the core downtown business district is eligible to apply for funding. Funds can be used to make improvements to the exterior of the buildings are to fix any types of building code issues that might create problems when attempting to rent out the building.
“The goal is to improve the building stock and attract vital businesses to the downtown,” Kaiser said. “Some of the applicants are looking to do some improvements to electric work or to waterproofing basements.”
Kaiser said the grant is a 50 percent match with a maximum of $15,000. So a business or building owner planning a $30,000 improvement project could be eligible for an up to $15,000 grant.
“The grant does not cover things like expansions or additions,” said Councilor Tom Stugmyer, who is also acting director of Main Street Wadsworth. “It is for rehab of existing buildings. It also doesn’t cover landscaping. But it does cover painting, windows, doors or siding.”
Stugmyer said anyone interested in obtaining an application can stop by the Main Street Wadsworth office or can contact Kaiser at City Hall.
The city was approved for the $300,000 in downtown revitalization grant funds through the Ohio Development Service Agency late last year. Medina County submitted the application on behalf of the city as part of Fiscal Year 2016 Community Development Block Grant program.
City Planner Jeff Kaiser reported at a March 2 economic development committee that the city has received seven grant applications from downtown business and building owners with one or two more pending.
“According to our consultants, five of the seven applications need more information so we will make the calls to get that,” Kaiser said.
Kaiser said applicants will soon receive a call from the consultant that is working with the city to administer the funds. The next step will be to send a rehab inspector out to the respective properties to take a look at the proposed improvements.
“We have enough interest to do projects on about 22 buildings over the next two years,” Kaiser said. “If we could get seven to 10 done by early summer and another three or four in the fall or early winter, that would be a good start.”
Kaiser said any business or building owner within the core downtown business district is eligible to apply for funding. Funds can be used to make improvements to the exterior of the buildings are to fix any types of building code issues that might create problems when attempting to rent out the building.
“The goal is to improve the building stock and attract vital businesses to the downtown,” Kaiser said. “Some of the applicants are looking to do some improvements to electric work or to waterproofing basements.”
Kaiser said the grant is a 50 percent match with a maximum of $15,000. So a business or building owner planning a $30,000 improvement project could be eligible for an up to $15,000 grant.
“The grant does not cover things like expansions or additions,” said Councilor Tom Stugmyer, who is also acting director of Main Street Wadsworth. “It is for rehab of existing buildings. It also doesn’t cover landscaping. But it does cover painting, windows, doors or siding.”
Stugmyer said anyone interested in obtaining an application can stop by the Main Street Wadsworth office or can contact Kaiser at City Hall.