The city of Round Rock is eyeing an expansion to its Commercial Facade and Site Improvement Grant program, with a resolution up for a City Council vote March 26.
The overview
The grant program is meant to help business owners and tenants improve the exteriors of buildings within the program boundaries. The program has previously been available to properties within two areas along Mays Street.
City staff recommended the program expand its boundaries by connecting North Mays and South Mays areas into one corridor, as well as adding a portion of Round Rock Avenue, from Deep Wood Drive to South I-35 Frontage Road.
“Both routes include high opportunity shopping centers and downtown businesses location along Mays,” said Joe Brehm, director of community and neighborhood services. “These were selected in consultation with the [Round Rock] Chamber to maximize our combined efforts on commercial revitalization.”
Council will decide whether to approve the boundary changes at its March 26 meeting, although officials expressed their support of the measure during a March 24 City Council packet briefing.
“I think this is very forward thinking,” said Place 5 City Council member Kristin Stevens. “I think sometimes we’re in competition with our neighbors who are building more now and have new shiny toys. What [staff has] done here, and the improvements are drastic, and I think that adding these extra areas is going to go a long way to helping our commercial businesses decide to come here.”
About the program
The purpose of the city’s program is to assist in making commercial buildings more economically viable and visually appealing by repairing, replacing, removing and installing signs and awnings. Eligible businesses can receive a matching grant for what they spend on improvements for up to $100,000.
So far, the city has awarded three grants through the facade improvement program, including improvements to Rock Creek Plaza on North Mays Street, Renaissance Square on I-35 and the South Mays Corner Store. To date, the city has awarded $215,000 in facade improvement grants.
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