Steve Saint Louis had wanted to make some minor enhancements to the outside of his shop, Earthworks Gem Design Studio. Simple things, really. Just something to make his business stand out a bit more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were some certain things we wanted to do to enhance the curb appeal of our spot,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Luckily for Saint Louis, the Kent Downtown Partnership this year introduced the Facade Improvement Matching Grant program for just such an occasion.<\/p>\n
With the program in mind, Saint Louis hired Greg Bartol of Studio B, whom Saint Louis said did work on other parts of the block, to create a proposal for a new awning, which Saint Louis then presented to the KDP.<\/p>\n
Earthworks received $800 from the KDP \u2013 which Saint Louis matched with his own $800 investment \u2013 and today a brand new awning welcomes shoppers to the corner location.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople really notice it,\u201d Saint Louis said. \u201cThe real bonus … is that anything we do to visually enhance the curb appeal is good for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earthworks is the first shop in the historic downtown area to complete a project using funding from the matching grant program. The program was designed to encourage store owners to enhance the look of their buildings, according to KDP board member and Chamber of Commerce President Mark Albertson of Albertson Law Group.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole idea of this program is to stimulate the efforts of the Downtown Partnership to restore the street appearance of the historic downtown,\u201d Albertson said. \u201cWhen you have a pretty, safe, clean downtown, you\u2019re going to attract more shoppers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Albertson said the KDP has received an \u201cinflux of new money\u201d thanks to a Business and Operations tax rebate program that allows local businesses to divert tax dollars to the business\u2019s hometown.<\/p>\n
In Kent, the KDP, which manages the funds, created the facade improvement program, offering 50 percent of the costs for facade improvement, new awnings or new signage, up to $4,000, $1,500 and $1,500 respectively. The grant will also cover 100 percent of architectural assistance, which Albertson said will allow business owners to see what can be done for their buildings without having to spend any money out of pocket.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to give away every dime of money I have to give away every year,\u201d Albertson said.<\/p>\n
The money can be used by any KDP member to improve a building\u2019s exterior facade.<\/p>\n
So far, Albertson said, the response has been good, with Earthworks getting the first check and Children\u2019s Bookstore & Teaching Supplies getting the second.<\/p>\n
Children\u2019s Bookstore has received $2,300 from the KDP, which covers the business\u2019s architectural costs as well as other improvements.<\/p>\n
Bookstore owner Karl Beavers said improvements were in store for the building\u2019s entranceway, including some fresh paint and post detail. Beavers also plans to remove metal siding from the store, and replace that with a wisteria-holding trellis, a move that Albertson said will restore the building to the way it looked in the 1920s.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would not have done any of the improvements without the funds,\u201d Beavers said. \u201cIt really made the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
Albertson said the improvements to the bookstore are especially important because of its location linking the Historic Downtown with Kent Station.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a gateway store,\u201d he said. \u201cThe more we can do of (the improvements), the more people will be inclined to come to downtown Kent to shop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Both Beavers and Saint Louis said while they appreciate the improvements to their stores, they made the improvements primarily to benefit the downtown as a whole.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe main reason we did it was to help downtown Kent,\u201d Beavers said.<\/p>\n
Saint Louis agreed, adding that he is a firm believer in the phrase \u201ca rising tide lifts all boats,\u201d meaning that as one building makes improvements, the whole downtown benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy doing this type of thing,\u201d he said, \u201cwe\u2019re helping that tide rise.\u201d<\/p>\n
For more information on the Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program, call the Kent Downtown Partnership at 253-813-6976.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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