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New round of design grants to open in November
Edward Jones New Awning.jpg
Edward Jones, located at 124 E. Main Street, received new awnings courtesy of Main Street McMinnville’s Design Grant Program.

The first round of projects from Main Street McMinnville’s Design Grant Program has started with an awning replaced at 124 E. Main Street, Edward Jones, downtown. 

Design Grants will also fund additional awning work at Hoover and Son, as well as Ross & Ross Law Firm. For Collins River BBQ and Café, this grant will fund window replacement and work for other downtown properties.

The first round of grants resulted in $30,000 toward 11 projects on seven buildings. The total economic impact of the projects will be calculated at the end, but it is estimated the projects amount to over $60,000 of work on downtown buildings.

Susan Stewart and David Wideman own 124 E. Main Street, and they made use of an awning grant to replace the worn awnings. The new awnings brighten the façade and contribute to the pedestrian experience.

The Main Street Design Grant program funds façade improvement, awning repair/ replacement, rear entrance beautification, and safety projects. This program serves only commercial projects located in the historic district. 

The façade improvement and rear entrance grants have a maximum grant amount of $4,800 and the awning and safety grants have a maximum grant amount of $1,500. There are several grants to disburse in each type. Property owners are expected to contribute a 25 percent match.

MSM will accept applications, first-come, first reviewed, from Nov. 1 to Jan. 15 for Round 2. MSM staff and Design Committee members are available for questions and are happy to provide assistance to ensure applications are completed correctly and have the best chance for approval. 

The Design Grant program strives to encourage downtown property owners to invest in the exterior of their building. The grant program celebrates and supports efforts to create a more pleasing experience for downtown visitors and tourists. 

These efforts help to drive economic activity and keep the heart of McMinnville bustling. 

The source of funding for the Design Grant Program is a federal Community Development Block Grant that has been passed through the Department of Economic and Community Development at the state of Tennessee. These CDBG funding encourages investment and revitalization of downtowns like McMinnville across the country. In this round, five other communities in Tennessee received funding.

For more info about this grant or application process, call 931-506-5335 or email mainstmcminn@blomand.net.