Fairbury Expands Business Design Challenge

The City of Fairbury has expanded the Downtown Design Challenge Grant to include all qualifying businesses located in Fairbury. Prior to expanding the program the grant was only offered in the downtown historic district. Funding for the Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grant Program is provided from the Local Option Sales Tax Program (LB840). Grants are made in accordance with the Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grant policies and are in conformance with all applicable state and local requirements. The city administers the program under the contract. Fairbury’s LB840 fund offers matching grants for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and restoration improvements for businesses in Fairbury up to a maximum amount of $33,000.00 per storefront. Ten percent, or $3,300, may be used for design assistance. Design challenge grants are intended to stimulate private investment in the revitalization of local architecture and to foster image-making improvements to commercial properties. Projects must have visible results that enhance economic vitality or address a code compliance issue.Any person or other legal entity owning commercial property in the City of Fairbury is eligible to apply. Special arrangements can be made for merchants who lease buildings. Qualifying commercial properties include single-purpose retail and office buildings, and mixed-use buildings containing combinations of retail, office, and residential apartments. Single-purpose apartment buildings are generally not eligible for design grants. However, according to the city’s website, “individual proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.”According to Fairbury Mayor Spencer Brown, “Expanding our (Downtown) Business Design Challenge to all of the businesses in town is a great opportunity for business owners to improve and maintain their businesses while letting the city pick up a share of the expense.” Businesses planning maintenance, repair, rehab or restoration improvements and are located in city limits can check out the grant at https://www.fairburyne.org/265/BUSINESS-DESIGN-CHALLENGE.

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