Community

Moundsville Developing New Business Exterior Grant Program

MOUNDSVILLE -- The city of Moundsville plans to help business owners in the historic Jefferson Avenue business district improve their building's exteriors thanks to a repurposed facade grant program.

Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy said City Council on Tuesday approved allowing him to develop details of the new Jefferson Avenue Business Exterior Upgrade Grant Program and bring it back to them for approval.

He said council approved using the balance -- $14,000 -- of an old Facade Program that never came to fruition. Money for the program came from using a portion of the city's municipal sales tax.

However, Healy said the program never got off the ground and was never used.

"It was never even implemented. Council was working with our Historic Landmarks Commission, but council was never able to be satisfied with the program and it got shelved," he said.

Healy said the original facade program was going to help business owners on a larger scale; however, this new program will be scaled down with smaller amounts of money to give to business owners.

For example, the city may grant $1,000 that would be matched by the business owner.

It could be used to repaint the front of their building or replace a glass window or purchase new signage.

"You can improve the front of a building even with a nice coat of paint," he added.

"With the $14,000, if it succeeds, council will potentially allocate more funds and expand it to all of the city."

This grant program will complement the city's recent work to improve the look of Jefferson Avenue. New benches and trash receptacles were installed, light poles were repainted and their globes replaced and LED lights installed.