- Grants will assist six communities with downtown building improvements
- Program funded through Rural Economic Opportunity Act
NASHVILLE — Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe recently approved $500,000 in Commercial Façade Improvement Grants to assist Tennessee communities with downtown improvements.
Commercial Façade Improvement Grants are used to improve commercial buildings in downtown districts that have active revitalization programs in place through the Tennessee Main Street and Tennessee Downtowns programs. Grants can be used for improvements including new awnings and signs, painting, windows and doors, brick repair and other upgrades. The program is funded through the Rural Economic Opportunity Act passed by the General Assembly.
“Downtown districts are what make a community unique,” Lee said. “With the assistance of the Commercial Façade Improvement Grants, the six communities that have been awarded these funds will be able to improve their downtown districts, which will promote future growth.”
“I congratulate the six communities being awarded the Commercial Façade Improvement Grants,” Rolfe said. “These grants are designed to help communities update their downtown districts and help improve businesses that are in the heart of our downtowns. I appreciate these communities for taking advantage of this program and look forward to seeing what each community has in store in the future.”
The 2019 Commercial Façade Improvement grantees are:
Brownsville – $50,000
Columbia – $100,000
Gainesboro – $100,000
Pulaski – $100,000
Selmer – $50,000
Sevierville – $100,000
Four of the six grantees are accredited Tennessee Main Street communities, and two are Tennessee Downtowns communities. Each property owner is required to provide a 25% match for the funds and administer the façade improvement program.
This is the seventh annual round of Commercial Façade Improvement Grants. The program has committed more than $3 million in improvements through 50 grants across the state.
Each application was supported by the community’s senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.
