By SHERRY DIGMON
News Publisher
Main Street Atmore is opening their next grant cycle, and local business owners are encouraged to apply.
A property owner meeting was held Thursday, October 13, to encourage involvement and give basic information.
Dale Ash, Main Street Design Committee chairwoman, showed numerous before and after pictures showing what previous owners have accomplished with the help of Main Street grants – not that the grants funded complete projects, but certainly helped defray some of the costs.
Ash said there had been some confusion in the past about “historic paint colors” but that has been clarified to mean colors that blend in historically.
Grants may be used for signs, paint, awnings, doors, and lighting.
Some owners said they had had problems getting contractors to do the work on their buildings. Ash said some grant applications have been extended due to these slow responses. She encouraged owners to go ahead and get quotes and try to keep the momentum going in Atmore.
“Not too long ago, you couldn’t give a building away on Main Street,” she said. “Now you can’t afford to buy one.”
Last year, Main Street Atmore awarded 15 grants, most were for $3,500. Ash didn’t know exactly how much would be available this year. (First National Bank & Trust is donating $30,900, proceeds from their Celebrity Waiter event earlier this month.)
Shinora Redmond is Main Street interim director. Serving with Ash on the Design Committee are Ann Gordon and Jerry Gehman, both of whom were at last week’s meeting.