CLEARFIELD – When the Clearfield Revitalization Corporation prepped for the release of their Design Challenge Grant for Storefront and Facade Improvements, they were not expecting to receive 14 worthy applications.
Main Street Manager Kellie Truman, “For a first year, first round facade program to receive three-to-five solid applications, you’re doing something right. Clearfield over-succeeded that benchmark with 14 applications. It’s fulfilling to see local businesses wanting to be involved to update their storefronts in efforts to match our guidelines for the overall appearance of our town.”
The businesses who received grant money for the first round of the CRC Design Challenge Grant for Storefront and Facade Improvements are: Grice Gun Shop, The Clearfield County Historical Society, Clearfield Chamber of Commerce, Rob Bozovich for State Farm Insurance, Birch Properties (corner of Market and Third Streets), Jean DellAntonio for the William Kriner Law Office building, and St. Charles Cafe.
Almost all the applications were very solid and thorough, so it was a very hard decision for the CRC to choose who received grant money, and what amount. The criteria for this round was set on “impact” of the downtown as a whole; those projects with the greatest impact were awarded.
The largest impact of all the applications was St. Charles Cafe. As shown from the sketch, St. Charles Cafe is focusing on the second and third story porches, windows, dusk to dawn lighting, and adding flower boxes to bring “life” back into downtown-all which were outlined by the CRC’s Design Committee and the Guidelines.
“We’re very excited about the St. Charles Cafe facade project. They did their homework on the Main Street Approach, and outlined the positive impact that this project will have on Downtown Clearfield,” said Truman. “St. Charles took no shortcuts and provided thorough details about this project and is working towards the historic preservation of the building. St. Charles also used local contractors for this project, which is setting a great example for businesses to buy and spend local.”
The CRC awarded $15,000 in this first funding cycle in 2010 with a private investment totaling approximately $50,000.
Said Truman, “This is wonderful news for our downtown. This amount of money may never have been invested if it was not made possible through this grant from the CRC. Not only are we investing in our local economy through local contracting jobs for these projects, we are stimulating private investments in the preservation of historic downtown. We are improving the image of Downtown Clearfield to be welcoming and inviting for guests, as well as enhancing our sense of place one storefront at a time. In order for us to be proud of our community, we must first be proud of the overall look and feel of Downtown Clearfield.”
For those who did not get to apply this first round, or applied and did not get funded, there will be a second round of applications due June 23. The CRC will be granting up to a total of $15,000 for Facade and Storefront Improvements in the Main Street District. The grant works as a 50/50 match up to $5,000. If you would like more information on the guidelines and application, the CRC highly recommends you to please contact Kellie Truman, Main Street Manager at 765-6000 or via e-mail at crc.manager@gmail.com.