One of the biggest surprises – and announcements – from Mayor Tom Henry’s State of the City address had little to do with city government at all.Thirteen more Fort Wayne businesses will get to take advantage of Mayor Tom Henry’s facade grant program to improve their storefronts.
Henry on Wednesday named the recipients of his second round of grants aimed at businesses improving their buildings. He said the $260,000 investment of city income tax dollars resulted in nearly $1 million of private investment on 13 projects.
Providing an incentive for businesses to invest in their buildings helps not only those businesses but also the entire neighborhood, Henry said, calling the program part of the local stimulus package.
“We are seeing outstanding ideas and results coming from the business sector,” he said.
Paul Jamison, owner of Jamison Meats, received a $26,500 grant for his store at 3423 N. Anthony Blvd. Jamison said he has looked at improving his storefront for years but was never able to make it work financially.
“It was enough of an incentive to get us to do it,” he said of the grant.
He said his grant will allow him to heighten the store’s facade to cover air conditioning units, improve its awning and update its sign along Anthony. He said the steer statue will remain, but he wasn’t sure whether it would be updated.
The company will invest $39,500.
The grants are available to businesses in the city’s economic development target area.
The city received 35 applicants for this round of grants and selected 13 winners partly by trying to balance the grants across the city.
Businesses were required to at least match the grant with private investment, but most businesses went well beyond that, Henry said.
Last year the city awarded $400,000 to 26 projects.
Henry said he hopes to continue the grant program next year, but it will depend on how much money is available in the city’s budget.
