Genoa Main Street offers façade grants

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GENOA - Businesses and building owners in Genoa's Main Street district can get a helping hand if they want to improve their building façades. &#8220Grants will be awarded this year and will match 50 percent of eligible costs up to $1,000,” said Pattie Marx, president of Genoa Main Street Inc. The grants are being underwritten by Briody Enterprises of Genoa. &#8220These grants help Genoa Main Street Inc. carry out its mission of historic preservation,” Marx said. &#8220This program, first introduced in 2004, provides matching funds to promote the continued revitalization of commercial buildings in the downtown business district by restoring architectural design details and characteristics of building façades of historical significance and correcting property maintenance code violations related to building façades.” &#8220Main Street is the front porch of our community,” said Mark F. Suchy, president and CEO of Briody Enterprises. &#8220When downtown buildings reflect pride and care by the owners and businesses in them, it demonstrates we are a community that cares. Tourists, shoppers and those looking for a home will see Genoa as the community worth visiting again and even calling home.” To be eligible for consideration, a structure must be located within the area bounded by Sycamore Street to the east, the Kishwaukee Valley Historical Society Museum to the west, the ICE Railroad tracks to the north and Jackson Street to the south, Marx said. Preference will be given to structures of local architectural or historical significance as determined by the Facade Improvement Committee. Properties lacking architectural or historical significance will be considered if improvements are consistent with the mission of Genoa Main Street Inc. The $1,000 may be applied toward one or more projects at the discretion of the committee. Among exterior improvements eligible for grants are: --Window/door repair or appropriate replacement work. --Storefront rehabilitation, including removal of non-original siding. --Cleaning or painting of exterior surfaces. --Repair or restoration of architectural detailing. --Awnings. --Signs. Grants are not intended for interior remodeling; roofing repair; rear entrance, alley or parking improvement; and benches or other streetscape furniture. Grants will be approved only for permanent-quality exterior improvements that maintain or enhance the building's architectural or historical features. Grants will not be awarded for minor exterior work that is the owner's responsibility. The deadline for submitting applications is May 1, and the grants will be awarded May 15. Additional grants will be awarded Sept. 15. Deadline for those grants is Sept. 1. Application forms and complete details on the program are available at the Genoa Main Street Inc. office at 327 W. Main St. Briody Enterprises Inc. is a residential and commercial development and construction company. Briody specializes in land development, home construction at the Riverbend Subdivision in Genoa, commercial construction and rental units, including single-family homes, duplexes, commercial space and self-storage units. Briody Enterprises is located at 501 W. Main St. Founded in 1996, Genoa Main Street Inc. is a volunteer organization dedicated to preserving Genoa's historic heritage and small-town qualities while promoting economic development and downtown improvements. The Illinois Main Street program is administered by the office of the lieutenant governor. It is based on a national model that offers communities help with issues such as downtown improvements, historic preservation and economic development. Illinois is one of 40 states that belong to the national Main Street program, administered through the National Trust for Historic Preservation.