The Business Façade Improvement for the District of 100 Mile House, where eligible businesses now have until May 1 to apply for up to $5,000 in matching funds, is approved.
Director of economic development & planning Joanne Doddridge says Northern Development Initiative Trust has approved the District for a $20,000 grant, but businesses need to apply before anyone can benefit from it.
"[NDIT] also wants to see that that grant money is spent, because they have other worthy communities that they'd like to contribute to."
Plenty of projects can qualify for this 50 per cent funding to give a bright new look to their storefront, whether it is a log siding or brickwork, fresh paint or new lighting, and other exterior features that qualify, with a minimum project value of $2,000, and a maximum of $5,000, she explains.
"Our development permit area guidelines lay out some of that post-and-beam, or the log-work, or the natural brick or stonework, and those are the guidelines used to evaluate these business facade applications.
"So we definitely encourage businesses to incorporate those natural features, and log and timber work especially."
However, even painting the exterior of your storefront to freshen and liven up the look can be approved for this funding, she explains.
If approved, this grant will assist property and business owners to renovate, restore or redesign retail and commercial building facades and storefronts downtown and in many other areas with pedestrian traffic, such as along Highway 97.
Some of the past businesses that have participated in the program to spruce up their storefronts include Our Kitchen Corner, the Horton Ventures/WorkBC employment office, and (earlier applicants) CIBC and the 99 Mile Motel.
The District provides a 50 per cent reimbursement grant to improve the facades of eligible commercial buildings for qualifying applications received by May 1.
Once approved, businesses have until Dec. 31 to complete these projects.
For more information, or to find out if your project might be eligible, call Joanne Doddridge at 250-395-2434, email jdoddridge@dist100milehouse.bc.ca or visit the website at www.100milehouse.com, under Applications and Forms.