CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield Revitalization Corporation, (CRC) continued to stimulate change and improve its image in downtown Clearfield by providing a second round of Design Challenge Grants for Storefront and Façade Improvements for the fall season of 2010. Five worthy applications were for consideration by the CRC’s Design Committee. The CRC proudly announced that all of the applications were able to receive funding. When completed, these projects will have a noticeable, positive impact throughout in the downtown main street district.
The businesses that were awarded funds from the CRC Design Challenge Grants for Storefront and Façade Improvements are as follows: Central Pennsylvania Community Action; Catalano, Case, Catalano, and Fannin; Jean DellAntonio for the William Kriner Law Office Building; Moena Restaurant; and Burns and Burns Insurance. The CRC awarded a total of $13,500 to these businesses for this round of grants, stimulating private investments totaling over $35,000.Â
Central PA Community Action will receive funding to replace the South Second Street stairway and handrails, while restoring the historical wooden columns and entryway. This will result in a more visually pleasing and safer entrance. Catalano, Case, Catalano, and Fannin will be painting their porch using a multiple-color scheme to enhance historical features on the porch. Property Owner Jean DellAntonio received a facade grant for The Kriner Law Office Building to replace and finish the windows in the second and third stories, which will complete a total facade make-over on this building. On a separate application, Moena Restaurant received funding to clean, paint and restore the top cornice, main entrance and trim around the first floor windows. With these two facade grants, both Moena and William Kriner Properties will be fully restored from street level to the top cornice. This will have a very large impact in downtown Clearfield, specifically in the heart of the main street district. The largest project this round is Burns and Burns Insurance, which is the corner building on South Second and Market Street. This is considered an anchor building in downtown Clearfield and will have a tremendous impact with its facade improvement. They received funding to paint, clean and restore the top cornice with a gold and green Victorian color scheme, while bringing the new colors down the front of the building on both corner sides. This will give the building a new dimension and will make the unique characteristic of the building stand out. Main Street Manager Kellie Truman stated, “The colors for this project were critical, since we were really going for that “wow” effect. We wanted something that really draws your eyes up the entire 4 stories of the building, and I think we did just that.”
President of the CRC, Dr. Keely Casteel stated, “Goals of the entire CRC are to inspire, educate, enable, and empower!  The Design Committee is doing a remarkable job of working together efficiently with our Main Street Manager to bring these goals to downtown with the Facade Program.  Business owners are really starting to look at their properties and ask, ‘What can I do to make my building and business better?’  With only one year into the main street program, these current projects will act as catalysts for other businesses next year.  We are all excited for what is to come for downtown Clearfield.”Â
The CRC is excited that downtown businesses are taking the revitalization efforts to heart, and planning larger developments that will lead to full restoration of the buildings in downtown Clearfield. For those who did not apply this round, there will be another round of facade grants in February of 2011, so mark your calendars! The CRC is able to grant a 50 percent match up to $5,000 per facade project in the main street district. If you are interested in taking advantage of this opportunity, please contact the Design Committee of the CRC at crc.manager@gmail.com or 765-6000. The CRC strongly encourages business and property owners to make contact before the application due date, so that the Design Committee can work with your building and its features to bring out the very best in downtown Clearfield.
Photos provided by Kellie Truman
