Saline hopes to take advantage of Michigan's Signature Building Program to breathe a little more life into its downtown.
The city is looking for someone who wants to open up a "destination restaurant" in one of the downtown's three marquee empty storefronts. Local officials are pledging to help that entrepreneur by helping them score a grant from the Signature Building Program worth as much as $400,000.
"If someone were to qualify for that full amount they could create 14 full-time jobs and 28 part-time jobs," says Art Trapp, the downtown development director for the city of Saline.
Three buildings in downtown Saline qualify for such a grant. They include the old Kelly's restaurant (which recently closed), the R&B building and another structure across the street from the old Kelly's that has been vacant for three years.
The money for the grant would go towards renovating the structure. It must also come with a 2-1 match, meaning the applicant must spend $800,000 on renovations to get the full $400,000.
Source: Art Trapp, the downtown development director for the city of Saline
Writer: Jon Zemke
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