Clarendon EDC awards 17th storefront grant

A local business’ renovation more than six months in the making has been capped off with new doors paid for in part by a grant from the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation.

Robertson Funeral Directors at 212 S. Sully received $1,627.50 as the 17th award under the CEDC’s popular Façade Grant Program, and this mark’s the programs first award that is not on Kearney Street.

Chuck Robertson said the CEDC money specifically helped pay for the purchase and installation of custom-made doors for the funeral home as well as some glass work. The business has also repainted its awning and exterior as part of a complete remodeling.

“This is a huge remodel project, and this grant helped a bunch with the final stage of the work,” Robertson said.

The biggest changes from the project are on the interior, which has been completely modernized. The funeral home’s staterooms, chapel, lobby, showroom, planning office, and bathrooms were completely renovated with new texturing, carpet, updated lighting, and new furniture. A second bathroom was also installed.

“It all feels more comfortable now,” Robertson said.

Robertson said he’s proud that most of the work on the interior and exterior was done by local contractors, and more work is on the horizon as the business plans to renovate an apartment in the building for use as office space.

Robertson recommends the CEDC’s Façade Grant Program to other businesses as a way to help spruce up the town.

“It just makes things look better when people come through town,” he said. “Now they will see our building, the Security Abstract building, and the Courthouse. I want to see Clarendon grow, and the only way it’s going to happen is if businesses invest and make it grow.”

Since the Façade Grant Program began in 2008, the CEDC has awarded $19,397.04 to property owners in downtown Clarendon. The Façade Grant Program provides 50-50 matching grants, up to a maximum of $2,000 per project, for improvements done to commercial storefronts.

The program considers properties located in the city’s entire Central Business District, an area that generally includes properties facing Kearney Street from First to Fifth streets as well as properties facing Sully Street and Jefferson Street from First to Fifth and properties on the west side of Gorst Street from Second Street (US 287) to Fourth Street. Businesses located on the US 287 corridor are also now eligible to apply for funding.

Projects eligible for consideration could be anything from a coat of paint to new signage to sidewalk improvements to a complete rehabilitation of a storefront. Property owners interested in Façade Grant funds must get approval before beginning their projects.

For more information about the CEDC Façade Grant Program, contact Chandra Eggemeyer at the Clarendon Visitor Center inside the Mulkey Theatre at 874-2421.