INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) has awarded matching grants to 35 local businesses through its Small Business Façade Improvement Program. This year’s commitments total $280,000 and are helping to leverage over $1.2 million in total building and façade improvements.
The Small Business Façade Improvement Program is one of the largest, well-established façade initiatives in the country focusing on small business revitalization in distressed neighborhoods. It is also the only small grant program available to small businesses in our city. Business owners receive reimbursement for up to half the total cost of work and pro bono architectural consultation when needed. Awards range from $500 to $20,000, contingent on the scope and scale of the individual project and are determined after a competitive application and review process.
Property highlights from this year’s awardees include:
• The restoration of the historic P.R. Mallory industrial complex on East Washington Street has provided the impetus for redevelopment in the Englewood neighborhood. Encouraging continual investment in the area, LISC awarded over $40,000 to long time area businesses such as: Gilpin Glass, Abell Engineering, and Majestic Stone. These represent three of several beneficiaries whose storefront renovations will contribute to the enhancement of this important corridor.
• Cornerstone Bakery and Sunshine Maintenance are two awardees that will undergo façade and signage improvements in the Near North area — leveraging their locations along the Cultural Trail and Meridian corridor.
• Tax Masters Plus, located just south of Fall Creek on Meridian Street, is another example of a near north business whose services have are very beneficial to area residents. They will benefit from a Community Development Block Grant of $20,000 to revamp the entire storefront of their locale.
• A third cluster of awardees is located in Fountain Square. New businesses to benefit from the funds include Wildwood Market, The Lift, Hotel Tango Whiskey and Milktooth.