Business & Merchant

Last Updated on Saturday, 28 May 2016 01:06

The Mon Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce has established a Façade Improvement Project (Phase III) to assist business and property owners in Charleroi's Central Business District in improving the appearance of the facades of the commercial buildings.

Armando’s Pizza in Charleroi rehabilitated its building with The MVRCC Façade Grant Project (Phase III).

“It’s a wonderful program and I’m grateful to be a part of it,” said Justin Forlini of Armando’s Pizza, who recently completed a project at his property with a façade grant. “By rewarding property owners for their investment in their buildings, you create a real “win-win” situation for the business district,” he added.

Owners of businesses and commercial properties in the project area (McKean and Fallowfield Avenues between the borough line on the southern end and 12th Street on the northern end, including Chamber Plaza and all streets perpendicular) are eligible to apply for the matching grant façade project. Commercial residential properties with four housing units or more in the C-3 zoning district will be considered. The purposes of which are as follows:

• To stimulate investment, sales and other economic activities in the central business district.
• To enhance the existing historic character of building in the central business district.
• To promote the image of the central business district as a strong economic entity.
• To encourage preventive maintenance and proper repair of the buildings and storefronts.
• To increase property values in the central business district.
• To encourage new businesses to locate in the central business district.

Grants will be made on a 1 to 2 matching basis (one dollar of grant money for each two dollars of private investment) with a maximum grant amount of $5,000 per property. Grants will be awarded on a first come, first serve basis and are based on the numbered file which will be opened for each preliminary application when submitted. MVRCC Chamber Members are given primary consideration. Minimum grant is $1,000 per property, i.e. there must be at least $2,000 investment.

This program represents the third phase of funding received by the Washington County Local Share Account. The previous programs have generated $222,000 in property improvements by private investment.

Please contact Deb Keefer at debbiek@mvrchamber.org for a complete application package.