LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth |
Main Street Offers Grant Money for Signs and Facades |
Downtown Rehoboth is getting a facelift. Take a look around and you'll see some of our popular restaurants and shops with new signs and faades. It's all thanks to business owners who care about the community and a matching grant program from Rehoboth Beach Main Street. There are new facades at Dos Locos on First Street, Ibach's Candy, Quiet Storm and the Spot on Rehoboth Avenue, and Robert Thomas Salon on Baltimore Avenue. New signs have gone up on Baltimore Avenue at Lotions and Potions, Redfish Designs, and Jakes, while Rehoboth Avenue has been spruced up with new signs at Dolphin Dreaming, Red Square Caviar Bar, the shops at the Avenue Inn and more. South Pacific Florist is in the midst of a sign and faade project and other businesses are set to begin work in the fall. Through the Sign Incentive Program Main Street has been offering members wholesale prices on new, front-lit signs. Now, thanks to the successful fundraising event The Great Taste, held last May, Main Street has funds for matching grants for signs. Main Street is looking for downtown business or property owners interested in applying for a $250 matching grant to replace building signage with front-lit signs. Applicants must be Main Street members and present Main Street with a proposal for a $500 (or more) sign project. If selected, the business would receive $250 toward the project. Naturally, the project materials must meet the city building sign ordinance and Main Street's very broad front-lit sign guidelines. Business or property owners may join Main Street at the time of application. The process is simple. Businesses awarded a grant may use the money to pay for a front-lit sign and associated lighting for the new sign. If the business chooses to use Main Street's partner in the sign program, Rogers Sign Company of Milton, the applicant will also receive a wholesale price on the sign. However, businesses awarded a matching grant may use any sign company they wish. "Main Street is a self-help program for downtown that really works" says Kathy McGuiness, Main Street Treasurer. As more donations come in, Main Street plans to offer more grants to business or property owners seeking to renovate and revitalize their signs and building faades. Grants are considered by the Main Street Design Committee, chaired by Joanne DeFiore, with members Ben Killebrew, Bill Miller, Mark Aguirre, Fran Grossi and Robert Rollins. "The more Main Street members we have, the more money is available to give back to the community," says Executive Director Fay Jacobs. Jacobs notes that membership is open to all downtown merchants and commercial property owners and well as homeowners within the city and the surrounding neighborhoods all up and down Route One. "Anyone who cares about Rehoboth is invited to join with us in preserving and revitalizing the community," says Jacobs. The 2002 Membership Campaign begins in the fall with letters going to all property owners and merchants. Membership is $150 a year for a full voting membership and $25 a year for a Friend of Rehoboth Beach membership. You can get more information or join by checking out the web site at www.rehomain.com. For more information, or to find out how to apply for one of the sign or faade grants, please call Main Street at 302-227-2772. |
LETTERS From CAMP Rehoboth, Vol. 11, No. 12, August 24, 2001. |