(Spencer)– The first round of recipients in a new program to help business owners in downtown Spencer spruce up their storefronts have been announced. Nancy Naeve of the Spencer Main Street Program says the winners were announced at the organization’s annual celebration Monday evening…
“This was a brand new program that’s just designated for downtown businesses in our district and it was something that just the Main Street board got to vote on. So it was specifically anything that’s going to improve our district. And it was history making. So we gave out $20,000 last night. The ask was upwards of $80,000. Nine businesses applied so definitely a need there and we’re just so thrilled that all of these entrepeneurs and business owners want to improve the district, they want to expand their products, they want to improve their facade.”
She tells us who the recipients are in this round of funding…
“I’m going to start with third place and that went to Vermeer Glass. They want a new kiln and their ask was $1,825.69, very specific, they had to match it with 25 percent. They bring in people from four states and so they wanted a new kiln to help them do what they do so that when people come here, they’re from out of the area and they spend money downtown. So they were awarded third place. We had a tie for second. Dermus has been in our community for a very long time. They want to expand their services and add another room, so they got $4,100. Skin Joy Med Spa is Shelby Hick and she is also a new business in town but they’re using the same door as Dermus, so it’s injectibles and anything that makes your face look better, so they were also awarded $4,100, that’s a tie. And then the grand prize went to Posh Salon for the facade improvement on the front of her building, she got $10,000.”
Naeve says they’re grateful to the Spencer City Council for helping make the micro grant program possible…
“A lot of the nonprofits get to ask the city for money that goes toward economic development and we asked for $20,000 and so we’re doing this again in the fall, so we’re matching that each time. So we couldn’t do this without them, either so we’re really proud to do this and watch businesses grow.”
More information on the program can be found at spencermainstreet-dot-com.
