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Facade program improving downtown Kincardine By Liz Dadson |
Kincardine council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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Things are looking good in downtown Kincardine, and much of that improvement is thanks to the municipal facade program. That's the word from economic development and tourism manager Steve Murray. Speaking to council in committee-of-the-whole Dec. 20, Murray said that 24 businesses have participated in the program since its inception three years ago. About $55,000 in grants have been handed out. When matched with private party investment of more than $131,000, that means about $186,000 has been invested in downtown facades through the program, said Murray, making it a real success. "Visually, the theme is beginning to take shape downtown," he said, noting the burnished gold lettering on several storefronts, and the goose-neck lighting on many store signs. Murray recommended the municipality investigate the potential to expand the program to include rear portions of the businesses that are highly visible from the harbour and from the municipal parking lots. He also suggested downtown merchants be encouraged to replace their backlit signs; and once the majority of the main street has participated, the program should be expanded throughout the municipality. Murray recommended council consider amending the sign bylaw to include perpendicular signage along Queen Street in the Business Improvement Area (BIA), and the municipality should continue to partner with Bruce County and Bruce Community Futures Development Corporation; and be part of the county's "Spruce the Bruce" program. He noted that current funding for this program, through the Kincardine Economic Development Reserve Fund, is not sustainable beyond 2011. Therefore, the economic development committee has recommended a budget of $25,000 for 2011, to continue offering grants through the municipal facade program.Council accepted the report and its recommendation as food for thought come budget time.
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 The building that now houses myFM Radio in downtown Kincardine was home to CW Computers ...  ... Now with help from the municipal facade program, it has been renovated to look like this. photos courtesy of municipal staff Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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