Watch US Change…Design Challenge Grant Program
Applications by Town:
Watch US Change!
Patrice K. Rader, Executive Director of Upper Schuylkill
Downtowns, a PA Regional Main Street Program, is pleased to announce
its new Design Challenge Grant Program. This program provides funding
to local property owners or business owners (with property owner approval)
to encourage restoration projects of building facades and to enhance
the building’s overall exterior appearance, thus creating an
improved central business district.
Eligible communities and central business districts
in Upper Schuylkill are:
Ashland – Centre
Street from 1st to 13th
Frackville –
Lehigh Avenue from Catawissa to Spruce; Oak from Middle to Balliet
Girardville –
Main Street from Richard to 3rd; North Second From Main to Mahanoy
Avenue
Mahanoy City –
Centre Street from 2nd to Catawissa; Main Street from Railroad to
Maple; Mahanoy Avenue from Main to Locust
Ringtown –
Main Street from 4th to 12th
Shenandoah –
Main Street from Washington to Laurel; Centre Street from Jardin to
White.
According to Rader, Upper Schuylkill offers reimbursement
matching grants through funding received from the Pennsylvania Department
of Community and Economic Development’s Main Street Program.
Design Challenge Grant funding must be matched dollar-for-dollar by
the property/business owner. The Design Challenge Grant Program is
designed to stimulate private investment in downtown properties, foster
an attractive shopping environment, and preserve the architectural
heritage of downtown.
Upper Schuylkill presents a comprehensive publication
of Design Guidelines to serve as a reference guide. The Design Guidelines
offer basic information about physical improvements, which have proven
to be effective in the revitalization of other Central Business Districts
throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, the Design Guidelines establish
a set of principles to ensure that the improvements are consistent
with the scale, character and history of the Central Business District.
“An attractive and energetic Central Business District
is essential to the success of the Upper Schuylkill Downtown Revitalization
program and to the communities in which it serves. Implementation
of the Upper Schuylkill Design Challenge Grant Program will result
in a more competitive and economically viable downtown in each of
our Six Great Towns,” says Patty Rader.
The total reimbursement, per applicant, will not exceed
50% of the total project cost up to a maximum of $5,000 per storefront
or as otherwise noted in the Design Guidelines. The grant cannot be
used to pay for work that is currently in progress or completed. Eligible
projects include: signs and awnings, murals, exterior painting and
restoration, additions and architectural elements, exterior lighting,
and corner, stand alone, or end of row buildings. The reimbursement
dollar amounts for the projects can be found in the Upper Schuylkill
Design Guidelines which were developed by Rader and staff and approved
by DCED.
Interested applicants are required to meet with the
Design Committee of their local downtown organization to discuss their
project prior to completing the application process. The local Design
Committee reserve the right to recommend projects that make the most
impact in their downtown areas and recommend those projects for design
assistance. Consideration will be given to the number of properties
that can be assisted. For maximum impact, the central business district
boundaries can be reduced by the local downtown Board of Directors
and Design Committee to include a portion of the Main Street target
area.
Applications will be accepted for review at any time
throughout the year. The awarding of grants is dependent on funding
from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)
and is based on the allocation of funds for the Upper Schuylkill Design
Challenge Grant Program from DCED.
Applicants are required to meet all codes and ordinances
of their Borough and real estate taxes must be paid current.
For more information and to schedule an appointment
to discuss your project, please contact the downtown representative
in your town:
Ashland Downtown, Inc.
Greg Fisher, Main Street Manager at 875-3571 or Lou Rader at 875-4861
Frackville Downtown
Patti Domalakes at 874-1766
Girardville PRIDE
Kathy Centiole-Martone at 875-2764
Mahanoy Downtown, Inc.
Eric Lieberman at 622-1988
Main Street Ringtown
Julian Milewski at 889-5123
Downtown Shenandoah, Inc.
Val Macdonald at 462-4494
