For the fourth consecutive year the Downtown Association of Yakima (DAY) has awarded matching grants for façade improvement projects in the Main Street District. 2018 was a year of records. The Design Committee for DAY, which manages the grant program, saw a record number of 6 applications along with awarding an all-time high of $14,000 in matching grant funding.
This year’s recipients were JEM Development ($5,000 for rebranding signage and painting of the City Place building), Yakima Federal Savings ($5,000 for a new sign in conjunction with the tile upgrade of the façade), and MB Designs ($4,000 for façade and front door upgrades).
“All 3 of these businesses completed excellent applications that convinced our Design Committee that these facades would be a fantastic improvement to our downtown business district, “says Design Committee Chair, Steve Weise. “I would like to thank all the businesses that submitted applications for the façade improvement grants this year. We had a record number of submissions. Every year as more businesses apply for our annual grants, it strengthens our resolve at DAY that Yakima downtown pride is on the move,” adds Weise.
Applications were accepted from March 1 to April 31. The Design Committee, then, reviewed applications during the month of May with a meeting held on May 25 to determine grant awards. The committee consists of Chair, Steve Weise, and members Patricia Byers and Lisa Homer.
The Façade Improvement Grant Program is a major component of DAY’s mission which includes maintaining the historic nature of the Main Street District along with fostering economic growth. The goal of the grant program is to spark investment in the downtown, to ignite projects that might not occur otherwise, and to initiate further investment in the corridor.
Chair, Steve Weise, spoke to this after the grants were awarded. “I am so excited to see our economy strengthened and especially to witness the resolve of our business people to continue to grow our downtown.”
Prior Recipients of grants:
2015: Thai House
2016: Loofburrow Wetch, Lee Siemon Building
2017: Crafted
Posted June 01, 2018
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