Another round of Ypsilanti storefronts will be getting assisted facelifts with a new round of grant money from the city's
Downtown Development Authority (DDA). At its meeting last week, the DDA's board of directors approved the latest installment of the Façade Improvement Program, which will award grants totaling $40,000 for eligible projects through the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year. The Historic Downtown is to receive a $20,000 allocation, while Depot Town and West Cross St. - Campus Town will get $10,000 apiece.
The DDA will match 50% of qualifying project costs, up to a maximum of $2,500 per grant. At least 16 businesses stand to benefit. Washtenaw County's Eastern Leaders group has put $7,500 towards the program, with the balance coming from the DDA.
Only exterior beautification projects such as painting, new awnings, signage, brick repair, parapet repair, or replacement windows will qualify.
The program is now in its second year. Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA, would like to see this grant be a perpetual fund. The monies are separate from the DDA's building rehabilitation grant program, which also allows for interior work.
"The larger grants, where we're talking about building rehabilitations, we know there are certain buildings in town that are either in a state of disrepair or they're being underutilized and they could really use some heavy investment. At some point in time there's an assumption that we won't have any more of those buildings," Colbeck says. "But when it comes to façade improvement there's almost always going to be a steady stream because people are going to want to replace awnings. A new business is going to come in and say, we want a new sign."
Last year's projects included a new sign for Model K, a sign and awning for Old Towne Coin & Gold in Depot Town, and gooseneck exterior lighting for Red Rock Downtown Barbecue.
Funds are available to both property and business owners. "So if you are a business owner and you rent, you can still apply for the grant," Colbeck says. Written permission to do the improvements from the property owner is required. Applications are being accepted now through June 30, 2013, and will be reviewed by the DDA on a rolling basis.
Source: Tim Colbeck, director of the Ypsilanti DDA
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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