The North Royalton City Council unanimously approved the City’s 2021-22 Storefront Renovation Rebate Program at their latest meeting. The program is designed to assist some business owners in the city with the improvement of the facades of their storefronts or assist in correcting exterior code violations.
The legislation states that “improvements to and redevelopment of the City of North Royalton’s stock of industrial, office, retail and commercial buildings is integral to the continued economic health of the City of North Royalton, Ohio, and its citizens; and the use of governmental resources for the promotion of jobs and employment opportunities, and the development of sites and facilities and for economic development in the community is in the public interest and is a proper exercise of municipal powers .”
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.” Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz and Council President Paul Marnecheck introduced legislation to start a storefront renovation rebate program for local businesses. The program has been designed by Community Development Coordinator, Tom Jordan. According to Antoskiewicz, Jordan’s office will be responsible for the implementation and administration of the program.
With the program, the city would provide a 50% rebate for exterior renovations of commercial buildings within the city. The applicant can be any business owner or business 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, windows, doors, 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. In the originally proposed legislation, some parking lots were included in that listing, but Council amended the program removing them from the original list of eligible projects. Ineligible buildings include schools, residential buildings, strip mall/plazas and franchises.
Eligible North Royalton businesses must complete an application, which will then 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.
Applications are now being accepted, with the Application and Final Report Instructions available at www.northroyalton.org under the Economic Development link. Applications must be submitted in the electronic format. For more information, businesses can contact Tom Jordan at 440-237-5484 or email tjordan@northroyalton.org.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer