Medina downtown building owners have until April 29 to pursue Main Street grant funding

Photo by Tom Rivers – Main Street in Medina is pictured in this photo from March 2013. A state grant offers 75 percent of the funds for building projects in the downtown business district.

MEDINA – Building owners in downtown Medina have until April 29 to apply for grant funds through the NY Main Street program.

Medina in December was approved for a $335,000 grant. Those funds can go towards 75 percent of a building improvement project.

Kathy Blackburn is managing the grant for the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce, which applied for the funds for the Medina businesses. Blackburn expects building owners will submit applications the far exceed the $335,000.

A committee will decide which projects are approved for funding. That is the same committee that has been handling facade improvement grants for Medina. The group will use a scoring system for weighing the grant applications. The committee expects to pick the grant recipients next month, Blackburn said.

Strong interest from the building owners could prompt another application for a Main Street grant once the current one is complete, she said. The Chamber held an informational meeting on the grant Tuesday morning at City Hall, and about 35-40 people attended, Blackburn said.

Building owners can receive up to $50,000 in grant funds for building improvements. Some of the eligible projects include facade improvements, masonry, windows, doors, signs, awnings, interior work, plumbing, electrical, walls/floors/doors, roof, foundation and structural work.

The grant doesn’t fund additions, demolitions, landscaping and parking and residential projects with no commercial units.

The grant includes $15,000 for streetscape improvements. Blackburn said the committee is considering historic-looking garbage receptacles and new planters.

For more on the grant, click here.