Grants will assist with downtown building improvements
Savannah Vetrans' Park
(photo from Savannah Main Street Facebook page)
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd recently approved nearly $750,000 in Commercial Façade Improvement Grants to assist Tennessee communities with downtown improvements. In the SWTDD region, Bolivar ($79,250) and Savannah ($100,000) received the 2016 Commercial Façade grants.
Commercial Façade Improvement Grants are derived from Tennessee's federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and 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 downtown area is the heartbeat of a city and these communities are taking steps to help their downtowns thrive," Haslam said. "I congratulate the nine communities awarded the Commercial Façade Improvement Grants this round. They are moving their downtowns in the right direction and helping us reach our goal of making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs."
"With the assistance of the CDBG Commercial Façade Improvement program, these communities will be able to improve their downtown districts and attract new business," Boyd said. "With renovations like these, the nine communities that were awarded these grants will be able to succeed in our state which will promote future growth in each community."
This is the fourth annual round of Commercial Façade Improvement Grants. Each application was supported by the community's senator and representatives in the Tennessee General Assembly.