The First Ward Committee is offering local businesses matching grants of up to $5,000 for exterior improvements.
“We realized that very often how people perceive a building is by its looks,” said 1st Ward Ald. Lynda Elmore. Though the program was initially conceived to improve businesses on Farnsworth Avenue, other businesses in the ward may qualify.
The 1st Ward covers the far northeast side of the city but also extends into the central city. Roughly, the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad line serves as its southern border, and the Fox River serves as its western border.
The 1st Ward Committee allocated $50,000 to the grant program for the rest of 2001 and likely will allocate additional funds next year, Elmore said.
To qualify for the grants, a building must have business zoning and be operated as a business. For more information, call the aldermen’s office at 630-844-3619 or the Farnsworth Avenue Community Center oat 630-898-6144.
