Gravenhurst gives $78,000 to improve storefronts

GRAVENHURST — Some core businesses here should look better this summer and next thanks to a taxpayer revitalization program.

Some fresh faces for Gravenhurst are coming this summer and next.

Another round of fascade funding has local businesses benefiting from a municipal financial facelift program.

This week town council approved $78,493 in Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grants for downtown property improvements.

This year the CIP Review Committee received 22 applications for projects that were eligible for grants in excess of $156,000. The committee recommended funding for 16 property improvement projects that have an estimated value of over $798,316.00.

The grants range from $107 to $11,000. (See chart below.)

“The CIP program has continued to be a way for our Council to invest in downtown revitalization,” says Mayor Paisley Donaldson in a town release.

“It is easy to see the difference in the downtown each year as a result of the funds set aside.  Not only does this program help create a consistent look that we are striving towards, it allows us to build important relationships with both our property and business owners.  Council is proud of the commitment to provide direct financial support to those looking to improve their buildings.”

“This year’s intake could easily be described as the programs most successful year,” adds Jeff Loney, manager of economic development. “We will see a good mix of improvements happening this year, with the funding leveraging a significant amount of private investment into the downtown core.”

The program which has been in place since 2013 has allowed local property and business owners to apply for financial assistance to improve the physical appearance and the overall vitality of their buildings.

While building owners are approved for the grant, they do not receive any funding until the project is completed.

Successful applicants are provided two building seasons to have the work completed and inspected by the Town. Research has shown that the aesthetics of the downtown influence the shopping habits of prospective customers and visitors.

Now completing its sixth year, the CIP program has been able to facilitate more than $2 million in improvement projects.

Eligible projects can include structural improvements, such as fire code upgrades, accessibility improvements to façade and signage projects aimed at improving the physical beauty of the buildings.

In addition, council has directed administration to evaluate the program and process to find new efficiencies and make updates to this program to ensure that it continues to be effective in the future.

Copies of the Community Improvement Plan, the Façade and Streetscape guidelines, a map of the CIP area and CIP grant applications are available at the Town of Gravenhurst Municipal Office or at www.gravenhurst.ca/cip.