(March 2, 2017) A recent rush of small businesses in Berlin took advantage of façade grant money, drying up all funding the town received during the last several years.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said she would apply for more funding this year, and that business owners who wish to take advantage of the grants should start lining up now.
The program, funded through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), offers up to $10,000 in matching grants, effectively allowing an exterior repair or replacement to be done at half the cost.
Wells inherited some funding, from 2013, when she took over the department just over two years ago. She also applied for, and was granted, $50,000 in 2015.
Realizing the 2013 money was in danger of drying up and that it had to be spent in order to access the 2015 funds, she made a concerted effort to advertise the grants during the last few months.
Apparently, it paid off.
“Because of the big marketing and social media push that we did to get the façade grants publicized, the response was so great that [the 2015 money was also spent],” Wells said. “I had four, large $10,000 grants get approved just in the last week.”
Those four were for new siding at Burley Oak Brewing Company, a deck and outdoor seating at Crush N Crab, and two large grants for Main Street Sweets, to rehab the front of the building.
No grant money was received in 2016 because the town held on to money from previous years. However, Wells said she planned to up the ante this year when applying for new funding.
The town had traditionally asked for $50,000 each year it applied through DHCD, although Wells said there was no ceiling for the request. When she was the economic development director in Sykesville, for example, she once asked for and received $100,000.
“This year, once the grant application process opens up again, I will be applying for more façade money,” Wells said. “I have a waiting list now of people who want to apply [including] the new owners of the Shoe Box building and the new business, Salvaged.
“The program got so popular recently. So many people applied for it and I couldn’t fulfill them all,” she continued. “The one positive side to all of this is because the 2015 money went by so quickly, I will ask for more money this session. You can’t get an answer if you don’t ask the question.”
The grant application process starts in August and towns are generally notified in December. Despite the wait, Wells urged business owners to start applying now.
“There’s a long process,” she said. “I have to review the application and they also have to go in front of the historic district commission, plus I have to send it to DHCD and then they also have to have the Maryland Historical Trust review it. That process takes about six-to-eight weeks.
“They need to get their applications ready, get their quotes in line and get their pictures in line, because once I hit the ‘go’ button it’s first come, first served,” Wells added.
Wells can be reached at iwells@berlinmd.gov or by calling 410-629-1722.
Economic and Community Development Director Ivy Wells said she would apply for more funding this year, and that business owners who wish to take advantage of the grants should start lining up now.
The program, funded through the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), offers up to $10,000 in matching grants, effectively allowing an exterior repair or replacement to be done at half the cost.
Wells inherited some funding, from 2013, when she took over the department just over two years ago. She also applied for, and was granted, $50,000 in 2015.
Realizing the 2013 money was in danger of drying up and that it had to be spent in order to access the 2015 funds, she made a concerted effort to advertise the grants during the last few months.
Apparently, it paid off.
“Because of the big marketing and social media push that we did to get the façade grants publicized, the response was so great that [the 2015 money was also spent],” Wells said. “I had four, large $10,000 grants get approved just in the last week.”
Those four were for new siding at Burley Oak Brewing Company, a deck and outdoor seating at Crush N Crab, and two large grants for Main Street Sweets, to rehab the front of the building.
No grant money was received in 2016 because the town held on to money from previous years. However, Wells said she planned to up the ante this year when applying for new funding.
The town had traditionally asked for $50,000 each year it applied through DHCD, although Wells said there was no ceiling for the request. When she was the economic development director in Sykesville, for example, she once asked for and received $100,000.
“This year, once the grant application process opens up again, I will be applying for more façade money,” Wells said. “I have a waiting list now of people who want to apply [including] the new owners of the Shoe Box building and the new business, Salvaged.
“The program got so popular recently. So many people applied for it and I couldn’t fulfill them all,” she continued. “The one positive side to all of this is because the 2015 money went by so quickly, I will ask for more money this session. You can’t get an answer if you don’t ask the question.”
The grant application process starts in August and towns are generally notified in December. Despite the wait, Wells urged business owners to start applying now.
“There’s a long process,” she said. “I have to review the application and they also have to go in front of the historic district commission, plus I have to send it to DHCD and then they also have to have the Maryland Historical Trust review it. That process takes about six-to-eight weeks.
“They need to get their applications ready, get their quotes in line and get their pictures in line, because once I hit the ‘go’ button it’s first come, first served,” Wells added.
Wells can be reached at iwells@berlinmd.gov or by calling 410-629-1722.