Collegiate Times

Up to $25,000 will be awarded to four more businesses located in the Downtown Commercial Zoning District to repair their building's facades through the Community Development Block Grant.

"The facade program is used to beautify downtown Blacksburg," said Susan Anderson, town council member. "We feel that the better it looks, the more inviting it will be to more business and to more people coming downtown."

The main goal of the facade program is to clean up the buildings, and beautify the downtown area by upgrading local businesses' facades. 

The town of Blacksburg is aiming to bring more attention to local businesses and increase downtown activity. 

They hope to increase sustainability of the businesses and provide more employment opportunities downtown. 

This year, a total of six local businesses, in two rounds of applications, will receive federal money from the town of Blacksburg to beautify their exteriors. 

Cabo Fish Taco and The Cellar were chosen as recipients of the grants in the first round of applications. 

They received money from last year's budget, which ended on June 30.

Gary Walker, owner of Cabo Fish Taco already has a plan for his funding. 

"We are putting the awning across the existing staircase and bench area," Walker said. "We are going to be touching up the brick and some of the windows to restore them back to what they used to be." 

Walker also explained how the local businesses receive the grant money.

"It's a matching grant, so as much money as I put, they will put up, up to $25,000," Walker said.

Kevin Long, a manager at The Cellar, explained that they plan to use the grant money in a similar way to Cabo Fish Taco. 

"We have hired an architect to design a new front for the building," Long said. 

He said current plans are focused on the restaurant's main entrance.

"We will replace all of the awnings, do some brick repair work, and perhaps replace the storefront windows," Long said.

The grants drew the interest of eight businesses in the first round of applications. Businesses that were not chosen in the first round were encouraged to reapply.

June 18 was the deadline for the second round of applications. 

Four more businesses will be chosen from seven applicants, with results expected within the next two weeks.

Housing and Neighborhood Services Manager Matt Hanratty said the town evaluated applications based on several points of interest.

"We rank the applications," Hanratty said. "Some of the criteria include the condition of the building, if the owner of the building is bringing any match dollars to the program and, if so, how much as far as private investment and leverage funds."

Hanratty said the town also looks at plans for the money. 

"Another big factor is where they want the assistance," Hanratty said. "Do they want it at the principle entrance for visibility? Ar

e they looking to improve the rear of their building or their sides?"
Extra funding of $50,000 from Blacksburg's recovery act funds will be given to two of the four businesses in the upcoming round. 

The other two businesses will receive money from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

While not every town receives money from HUD, Blacksburg is considered an entitlement community, which means the town receives money directly from HUD on an annual basis for two businesses each year. 

Businesses that are not chosen in this round of grants will have another chance to apply.

The Town of Blacksburg hopes to continue the Community Development Block Grant in upcoming years, with two businesses receiving the grant each year.