FORTVILLE — A town board in charge of special tax funds plans to start a program for helping businesses improve their exteriors next year.
Beginning in 2022, the initiative will have $50,000 available for facade improvements to properties in commercially zoned areas. Property owners would have to provide a 50% match and maintain ownership for at least seven years.
The program will be administered by the Fortville Redevelopment Commission, which oversees tax funds generated by new development in the town’s tax increment financing district, which encompasses much of its commercial areas.
Scott Meyer, president of the redevelopment commission, said more funds will be added to the program in future years depending on how popular it is.
“The idea is to improve the appearance of the outside of the commercial buildings, to enhance the look of the town,” he said.
Town staff are fine-tuning the program’s formal application process and guidelines, Meyer continued, adding officials drew inspiration from Indiana communities with existing programs like Noblesville and Delphi.
“Since they got experience, we want to benefit from what they’ve already done,” he said.
Meyer said the goal is to keep the program simple while also remaining good stewards of the funds.
“Anything that enhances the look of the community and our business areas is obviously a plus,” he said.
Meyer said the redevelopment commission was motivated to pursue the initiative by a larger facade improvement program currently benefiting the town, and a desire to continue something similar on a smaller scale. Fortville’s inclusion in the state’s Stellar Communities Program gained it a $250,000 grant for exterior improvements to FoxGardin Kitchen and Ale and VFW Post 6904.
Melissa Ham, acting president of the Northern Hancock Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomes the program and said it will come nicely on the heels of Fortville’s Main Street overhaul.
“I think the timing of the grant, bringing that change in to those businesses will definitely be beneficial,” Ham said.
For over 10 years, a program similar to the one being considered in Fortville has been available in downtown Greenfield — the Downtown Improvement Grant Program — administered by Greenfield Main Street and funded by the city. The initiative reimburses up to 50% of approved exterior building improvements up to $3,000 per property.
