Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz and Council President Paul Marnecheck recently introduced legislation that would enable the city to start a storefront renovation rebate program for local businesses. The program has been designed by Community Development Coordinator Tom Jordan. According to Antoskiewicz, his office will be responsible for the implementation and administration of the program.
According to North Royalton Finance Director Eric Dean, the City has “$50,000 as part of our original budget for the 2021 storefront program. This is budgeted for out of the City’s General Fund, through the Economic Development department.”
Several years ago, a Storefront Renovation Rebate Program was administered through Cuyahoga County Department of Development and funded through the Federal Community Development Block Grant Program. There were some North Royalton businesses that applied for and received funding for various projects, but the program through the county ceased.
According to the proposed North Royalton program, “the 2021-2022 Storefront Renovation Rebate Program is designed to assist business owners in North Royalton with improving the facades of storefronts and/or correcting exterior code violations.” The city would provide a 50% rebate for exterior renovations of commercial buildings within the city. The applicant can be any business owner or property owner. There will be a limit of $10,000 rebate per building and an additional 5% rebate for businesses that use green/sustainable/recycled component in the project. The projects that would be eligible are facade improvements, signs, awnings, window, doors, some parking lots, painting, cleaning, lighting, ADA-compliant access, exterior code violations and some landscaping. Projects that would not be eligible include interior improvements and elements that could not be seen in the front area of the building. Ineligible buildings include schools, residential buildings, strip mall/plazas and franchises.
The proposed process is that select North Royalton businesses must complete an application, which would have to be pre-approved by the city. The proposed program listing does not state a time frame, nor does it state when payment for the rebate would be made, or what criteria is necessary to receive the rebate. There was some discussion regarding the criteria listed in the proposed legislation regarding the eligible projects. These items may change when and if the legislation is adopted. Jordan stated that the applicants would receive reimbursement after showing items, such as cash receipts for the aspects of the project.
“Now we feel it’s a good time to put this out there,” said Antoskiewicz, as we are seeing movement in the direction that they want to get some things done. I’d like to see what the interest is. We can start out with the same $50,00 and if we see that there’s a lot of interest, we can do an adjustment during the year.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer