Seven businesses receive city Facade Program awards
Seven Decatur businesses who submitted detailed applications for the city of Decatur’s Facade Program will receive all or over 90 percent of what they requested to improve the exterior appearance of their establishment it was announced Wednesday night at a meeting of the Decatur City Council.
The popular program was funded by the City Council to the tune of $50,000. In past years, the program has been limited to downtown businesses being eligible but this year it was expanded to included those citywide. A meeting was held for interested businesses back in December at which businesses interested in applying were required to attend. A thorough review process was held by a committee that included Jamie Gephart, the city’s community coordinator, and Decatur Main Street volunteers Jeremy Friedt, Jason Bird, and Corey Affolder.
The most a business could request was $10,000 with establishments required to pay at least 50 percent of the total cost. To qualify, a business had to operate primarily in Decatur and contribute to the Decatur economy. It had to be independently owned and operated, not dominant in its field on a national basis, and employ under 50 people.
Businesses that received at $10,000 award from the Facade Program included:
Decatur Dental, 6496 N. Piqua Road, for vinyl siding and trim to its building.
The Mirage Banquet Hall, Winchester Street, for painting the exterior of the location, sign installation, and pave the parking lot and porch. The funding, however, was specific to cover just the painting and sign costs. Other awards went to: • MR Planners, 238 N. Second Street, $9,416, to revamp their structure, fix a roof leak, and to replace the north entry door. Money is specific for roof and door work.
Bush Investment Company, 103 N. Third Street, $7,945, for windows.
Decatur Daily Democrat, 141 S.
Second Street, $5,409, to pain the front of the building, redo its awning roof to metal, and to replace panels in signs.
Yvonne Marie’s Antiques, 152 S. Second Street, $4,000, to install metal roof to cover its overhand.
Next Page Bookstore and More, W. Monroe Street, $3,230, to replace the Sesquicentennial mural on the side of its building on that denotes “Welcome to Decatur, Established 1836.”
Facade program officials noted that all seven businesses that applied received money with only MR Planners not receiving the full amount of their $10,000 request..
Decatur Mayor Dan Rickord went on record to thank the work done by Gephart, the Main Street Design Committee, and the Decatur Redevelopment Commission in reviewing the applications and making recommendations to the City Council.