On February 19, 2019, the Elyria (OH) City Council unanimously approved a grant program providing financial assistance for downtown businesses to upgrade their building facades. Under this program, the city will reimburse business or building owners up to $10,000 to renovate the fronts of their shops or buildings. The grants may also be used to replace or upgrade business signage.
Initially, a total of $100,000 has been budgeted for the program. Individual business or building owners may apply for grants to reimburse as much as 50 percent of their project’s cost, up to a maximum of $10,000 per project. Similar grants have become more widespread in cities across the U.S. in recent years as local officials seek to improve the visual appeal and economic vitality of their central business districts.
