Marty Gordon
The town of Christiansburg has announced six grants to local businesses under a new façade program. Assistant Town Manager Andrew Warren said 13 applications were received in this, the first facade grant opportunity and, after review, grants were awarded to businesses in Christiansburg’s downtown and Cambria sections of the community,
Four of those grants were the full amount of $4,500 and another two are for partial amounts. In every case, the business must match the grant given by the town.
Full grants were given to:
5 Roanoke Street, the future home of a brewery,
594 Depot Street, the Electrical Supply Building in Cambria,
597/599 Depot Street,
105 Cambria Street (the site of the former Palmer Grocery).
Partial awards went to: Old Town Barber ($3,500) on Christiansburg’s Main Street and the Chair Doctor ($1,000) in Cambria.
In each case, the outside structure will be improved or taken back to its original state.
Town spokesperson Melissa Demmitt said the façade grant program is aimed at helping property or business owners improve their building facades and encourage investment in historic central business areas.
“The program is the first of its kind in the town, and it’s designed to improve the streetscape of Downtown and Cambria, strengthen partnerships with Downtown and Cambria stakeholders and encourage revitalization of older buildings,” she said.
A committee, comprised of town staff, a council member and members of the community, reviewed the applications. The finalists then worked with a local artist to draft a design concept, and once the artist’s rendering has been approved by the committee, property or business owners will be required to perform or contract all building improvements within six months, or an approved nine months schedule.
Depending on the success and demand after the program launches, the eligible areas may be expanded beyond Downtown and Cambria, into other parts of Christiansburg.
