OC seeks applicants for facade funding

From staff reports

An Oil City program intent on helping local business owners spruce up their building facades is looking for applicants.

“We are applying for our third round of funding and we are trying to get the word out that we can help business owners stretch their dollars,” said Kathy Bailey, manager of the city’s Main Street Program.

In the first two rounds of funding, provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Main Street Program helped 47 storefront improvement projects.

That was done over a period from 2012 to 2017 and helped pump a total of $287,000 into those improvements.

The funding incentive covers signage, awnings/canopies, windows, doors, exterior lighting, exterior cleaning/painting, masonry/woodwork/metal architectural finishes, professional design. An applicant may be a property owner or a tenant leasing space.

The grant is a 50/50 matching amount that can provide up to $5,000 per applicant.

Eligible for the funding are business properties within much of the North Side and South Side business districts.

Bailey said the program is trying to reach beyond those boundaries for the upcoming funding round.

“We are hoping to extend those districts to include portions of North Seneca Street, Duncomb Street, and East Second and East Front streets,” said Bailey. “So I would encourage businesses in those new areas to apply and, hopefully, they may be included in the facade grants.”

If the application for continued funding is approved by the state, monies could be available in the spring of 2020 through June 2022.

Businesses and commercial building owners must apply to the Main Street Program by Thursday.

Forms, as well as additional information, are available by contacting Bailey at kbailey@oilregion.org or by calling (814) 677-3152, Ext. 101.