Pittsburgh storefronts receive $1 million for improvements through grant program
A Pittsburgh grant program has expanded to over $1 million, enabling 77 businesses, including historic storefronts, to make vital upgrades.
PITTSBURGH —
A Pittsburgh grant program aimed at revitalizing storefronts has grown to over $1 million, benefiting 77 businesses across the city.
“Our neighborhoods and our small businesses are the lifeblood that creates opportunity and vibrancy and makes Pittsburgh a destination for everyone to live,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said Tuesday.
O’Connor highlighted the importance of investing in storefronts to boost neighborhood economies, while visiting Elizabeth Pharmacy Tuesday morning.
The pharmacy, which is located at the corner of Second Avenue and East Elizabeth Street in Hazelwood, has been open since 1910 and is a prime example of the program’s impact.
“The facade program made it possible to transform the business from a run-down-looking building to a vibrant, inviting business, which resulted in increased traffic to my business and gave me a sense of pride in its appearance,” said Joe Reich, owner of Elizabeth Pharmacy and a recipient of the Main and Main Commercial Façade Grant.
The Main and Main Commercial Façade Grant Program, launched in January, initially aimed to improve 25 storefronts across Pittsburgh with $500,000 in funding.
The fund, supported by investments from Pittsburgh Urban Initiatives, an affiliate of the Urban Renewal Authority, along with the City of Pittsburgh, has since grown to $1.13 million.
“We’re going to paint all the trim, get some new windows on the second floor, remove some of the old siding that is not very good for an old building,” said David Gancy, owner of Frick Park Market. “It’s going to be very important to the market for its continued success and longevity because the building itself is 130 years old and it needs a lot of work. We want to preserve it for future generations.”
“When we focus on that neighborhood corridor, it builds an environment in that community that you want to invest in,” O’Connor said. “Pittsburgh is taking pride in looking at the details and investing in your neighborhood. That’s why this program is so important.”
Recipients of the grant money can begin their improvement projects immediately and will be reimbursed through the program up to $20,000.
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