Group awards grant for curb appeal

A new grant opportunity approved by the Ohio General Assembly has provided an opportunity for Main Street organizations to award funding to local businesses for facade improvements and other beautification efforts.

Main Street Vermilion executive director Marilou Suszko said Vermilion’s organization received funding to distribute through Heritage Ohio this year.

Suszko said Main Street Vermilion is no stranger to receiving distributable grant money, with this new grant as one of many the organization manages.

“Historically, Main Street organizations have always been involved in the administering of different grant programs,” she said, adding that community development block grants are common.

The most recent grant, which comes from a distribution of $500,000 appropriated to Heritage Ohio from the state, resulted in $20,000 in additional funding for Main Street Vermilion to give local businesses in need for a bit of exterior refreshing.

Suszko said for every dollar the business plans on spending for refurbishing, repainting or remodeling is matched, dollar-for-dollar, by the grant.

“The beauty of these is they’re very easy to administer from a Main Street standpoint,” she said.

Especially in Vermilion’s downtown, Suszko said first impressions and beautifying storefronts is a main priority.

“A real priority is facade improvement,” she said. “It’s the first impression visitors get of the town and potential customers get of the business.”

Where the money can go

Suszko said the grant focuses on two features: facade improvement and signage.

That has included repainting buildings, adding and replacing signage, technical services from architects or consultants, upper floor living space improvement for living spaces where the owner does not reside and exterior and interior improvements for commercial businesses.

Suszko said the process for gathering applications and distributing funds for the grant is relatively simple, with Main Street keeping track of all qualifying projects by tracking the businesses’ estimates and actual costs.

“The goal is to maintain the architectural and historical integrity of a small historical downtown,” she said of the projects approved for funding through the grant.

The grant application and distribution process started for Main Street back in February.

While the funding would be available every two years, Suszko said she hopes more money will be allocated for a round two in 2022.

Who’s benefited

Suszko said while seven businesses have benefited from the grant thus far, at least 10 businesses in the past six months, have committed to beautifying their properties and storefronts.

“It tells you that our businesses are, especially during a time like this, they’re committed to staying in Vermilion and improving their businesses,” she said.

Businesses and projects approved for the grant include nautical clothing store Erie and Anchor, which invested in new signage; the building that houses Woodstock Cafe, which was completely repainted; a new facade for pub Route 6; two new windows installed for Swan Creek Candle; a new awning for Big Ed’s Main

Street Soda Grill; a new facade for Dogs and Cats on Main; and fencing and a handicap accessible ramp for hotdog stand Coal and Ice Station.

Suszko said Swan Creek Candle received another grant through Main Street last year to replace windows in one of the city’s oldest buildings, with this year’s grant allowing the business to completely finish its project.

Ed’s Soda Grill also invested its matching funds to add some artwork to the building’s frontage and repaint the entire exterior of the building.

“When you’re talking of investment, that’s a great example of private investment and the money that the grant provided,” Suszko said.