CITY PROVIDES FUNDING FOR MILLION DOLLAR MAKEOVERS

By Kirk Winter

The City of Kawartha Lakes has identified 17 properties that will be awarded grants or loans to improve their buildings in the first round of the Million Dollar Makeover project.

The program makes money available for downtown beautification in Coboconk-Norland, Kinmount, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon and Lindsay.

Grant funding is available for programs including sign improvements, facade improvements and building repair and renovation.

Programs eligible for loans funding include the above- noted programs, as well as design studies, accessibility improvements, heritage conservation, outdoor art and outdoor patios.

Twenty-four applications were received from these five designated downtown areas and initially 19 were approved. After the initial grant/loan process, two businesses decided not to proceed with their projects, leaving 17 who will benefit from this project:

Bobcaygeon

  • 12 Bolton Street – facade improvement - $10,000 loan

  • 39 Bolton Street – repair and renovation - $5,083 loan

Coboconk/Norland

  • 6 Nipissing Street – facade improvement - $48,241 loan

  • 6654 Highway 35 – facade improvement - $5,000 grant

  • 6663 Highway 35 – facade/signage - $5,525 grant

  • 6666 Highway 35 – Facade/signage/building repair - $10,000 grant

Fenelon Falls

  • 8 Princess Street – facade improvement - $75,000 loan

  • 10 Colborne Street – facade/signage – $7,000 to $24,000 grant/loan

  • 30 Colborne Street – facade/building repair - $5,500 grant

  • 36 Colborne Street – facade/building repair - $5,500 grant

  • 43 Colborne Street – facade improvement - $3,500 grant

  • 4 May Street – facade/signage/building repair - $10,000 grant

Kinmount

  • 4983 Monk Road – heritage conservation - $8,150 loan

Lindsay

  • 38 Kent Street West – facade improvement - $5,000 to $10,943.75 grant/loan

  • 100 Kent Street West – facade improvement - $2,367.50 grant

  • 15-17 William Street North – facade improvement - $5,000 grant

Omemee

  • 24 King Street East – facade/signage - $7,000 grant

Surprisingly, the City reported that the two largest loans offered were to projects that have decided not to go forward. A property at 9 King Street East in Bobcaygeon was offered a $101,250 loan for facade improvement, and a building in Lindsay at 87 Adelaide Street North was offered a $118, 840.80 loan for building repair and renovation.

Those funds will be returned to the pool of available cash that will be offered to other worthy projects. The Million Dollar Makeover is now open. The application process will remain the same. Visit http://www.kawarthalakes.ca/makeover for more information.

City Hall, Local NewsDeb Crossen