Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – Montevallo Main Street is currently preparing to issue another round of grants focused toward facade improvement and building restoration projects that are within the city’s Main Street District.

The organization is currently prepared to issue up to $20,000 in grant funding that is currently available for owners of existing commercial buildings in the Montevallo Main Street District.

With the grant program, business and commercial property owners may apply for a grant which, if awarded, will match 50 percent of their project cost up to the maximum amount of $5,000 per each grant awarded.

The stated goal of the program is to provide aid and funding that allows owners to create and maintain a vibrant and visually appealing downtown area that emboldens historic structures that have been preserved or restored in the continued economic development of the city.

As of their last issuing at the beginning of this year, the program had resulted in more than 26 completed projects since the program’s inception in 2018.

Eligible applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Must be the owners of the applied property or business tenants with written permission of the building owner
• The property must be located within the Montevallo Main Street District boundaries
• Applicants must have 50 percent funding for applied projects available from other sources at the time of application
• Applicants must be dues-paying members of Montevallo Main Street that are in good standing at the time of application and commit to remaining so for three calendar years after the completion of work
• Businesses must be in good standing with the city of Montevallo

Projects that may be undertaken with the grant funding include street facing exterior improvements that are in keeping with the architectural and historical characteristics of the building in question.

Those improvements may include the painting of building exteriors as long as they are historically appropriate colors, window and door repair, exterior lighting and the installation, repair or replacement of awnings.

New signage, brick repairs and cleaning and the removal of non-historic materials are also potential uses of grant funds along with other repairs and renovations that will help restore and maintain aesthetic quality and historical significance of both the building and district.

New constructions, interior renovations or the removal of historically or architecturally significant features are ineligible uses for the grant. Projects begun or expenses incurred prior to the approval of any grant will also be ineligible to receive grant funding. Projects that call for the sandblasting of brick or masonry surfaces are also prohibited.

The full project scope for all applicants—including materials, colors, etc.—must be approved by all applicable review committees before work begins. Signage may also be subject to additional review from committees.

The application for the façade grant program can be found on the city of Montevallo’s Montevallo Main Street page at Cityofmontevallo.com/MontevalloMainStreet.aspx. It can also be located by visiting the Montevallo Main Street Facebook page.

Applications for the program will remain open until Wednesday, July 10.

Completed applications can be submitted in person to 541 Main Street or emailed to mainstreet@cityofmontevallo.com.

Projects will be awarded grant funding by Tuesday, July 16 with expected completion dates by Tuesday, Oct. 15.