The Town of North Hempstead is renewing a grant program aimed at boosting business by beautifying downtown areas.
For a second year, the town will offer up to $60,000 in matching grants for the Downtown Beautification Program through its Business & Tourism Development Corporation in a effort to restore “the economic vitality of our downtowns and Main Streets,” Supervisor Judi Bosworth said in a statement.
“What a lot of people look for in a local downtown that has shown a success rate is something that is attractive and appealing to the consumer, something that is identifiable and unique that separates them from another downtown district,” said Kim Kaiman, executive director of the town’s Business & Tourism Development Corporation.
Following its launch last year, the Downtown Beautification Program will again offer up to $10,000 in matching grants to non-profit organizations and business improvement districts in each of the town’s six council districts.
The grants pay for signage, landscaping, street furniture, trash receptacles and other improvements in retail or mixed-use corridors.
”It really was to make our downtowns a little bit more attractive and appealing for people in the shopping districts,” Kaiman said.
The program has seen success in its first year, Kaiman said, and has awarded $34,465 to six projects in four council districts.
Those projects will lead to more than $93,000 worth of beautification work in Westbury, Port Washington, Great Neck Plaza, Manhasset and New Hyde Park, according to information Kaiman provided.
Local organizations were “beyond thrilled” when they learned they had won the grants and quickly asked if the town would award them again.
“It’s a win-win for everyone,” Kaiman said.
In a statement, Bosworth said the “much-needed” projects will “go a long way” toward the town’s goal of boosting local downtown economies.
Kaiman said beautification helps retail areas establish an identity that grows their customer base.
“It’s being able to identify the uniqueness of a certain community and being able to make that as appealing as possible,” she said.
The town will be releasing more information in coming weeks about application guidelines and deadlines, Kaiman said.
This year’s grant winners include the Pearls and Ivy Foundation of Westbury, the Westbury Business Improvement District, the Manhasset Chamber of Commerce, the Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District, the Greater New Hyde Park Chamber of Commerce and Residents for a More Beautiful Port Washington.
Winners must already have funds on hand for their projects and must spend that money first before getting a reimbursement from the town, Kaiman said.
