Main Street grants to help fix up storefronts

By ANDREW MCGINN
a.mcginn@beeherald.com

How many times have you driven around the Square and thought, “You know, I’d give that guy the $250 just to fix that sign”?

City administrator Mike Palmer must have done a Vulcan mind meld on you in your sleep recently, because lo and behold, Jefferson Matters: Main Street is now offering grants of up to $250 to property owners in the Main Street District to help them begin chipping away at their to-do lists.

“Sometimes, people want to fix things. They just don’t know how to go about it,” said Palmer, who brought the concept of a facade “mini-grant” program to Jefferson Matters: Main Street as a member of the board.

Palmer’s idea is rooted in two successful grant programs offered by the city of Jefferson — one to help residential property owners replace sidewalks and another to assist with residential demolition.

Both have been in place for several years.

For the sidewalk program — which already has replaced more than a half-mile of sidewalk within the city since its inception — property owners buy the concrete and the city donates the labor.

The other program provides up to $2,000 to help demolish a house.

“That’s a very popular program,” Palmer said. “People feel they’re getting something out of it.”

Both programs spread through word of mouth and have become so popular, in part, because of how easy it is to apply.

“It couldn’t be any quicker to fill out,” Palmer said of the one-page application. “It’s pretty much just your name and location.”

Jefferson Matters: Main Street, which aims to preserve and promote Jefferson’s historic business district, is now using the same concept for facade improvements.

“What I’ve heard since I’ve been here is, ‘Why would I fix up my building when the guy next to me doesn’t do anything?’ ” Palmer said. “We’re hoping it has a domino effect.”

Jefferson Matters reached out to two downtown property owners to get the dominoes going.

The owner of the old Linda’s Fashions building will be using the grant to paint plywood that’s been placed over upper-story windows, Palmer said.

A co-owner of Riley Hall — or “LEY HALL,” as the lettering now reads — will be painting his half of the building as well with the grant, according to Palmer.

“Just give us a chance and see,” Palmer said. “Paint can do some wonders. If we can just demonstrate on a few buildings.

“It’s a small job, but it will have huge benefits.”

The grants also can be used to help with tuck pointing, the replacement of doors and windows and the removal of non-conforming elements.
Palmer admits that $250 isn’t a lot of money, but it could be enough to spur action.

“It can do enough to demonstrate,” he said. “We saw that through the city. Just little things. Little carrots out there really help.”