Another downtown business has been approved for a grant and loan for façade improvements through Luverne’s Historic Façade Improvement Program.
Sue Ver Steeg submitted an application for a facade improvement project at 102 N. Freeman Avenue, formerly the Rock County Eye Clinic, which moved next door to the north.
Ver Steeg recently moved Great Planes Travel to this location from its previous office on Main Street and completed an interior remodel project.
Her application for exterior improvements includes a new façade on the upper portion of the building, new awnings and new internally lit signage.
Ver Steeg was approved for a grant in the amount of $5,250 and a loan in the amount of $5,250 at 2 percent interest for five years.
In addition to the proposed façade improvement project, Great Planes Travel also took advantage of the city’s logo design program through the Luverne Economic Development Authority.
The program assists business owners with logos and branding for signage and business cards, etc. and helps coordinate estimates, production and installation.
Ver Steeg, like many other local business owners, used the program to update letterhead and envelopes and incorporate the updated logo in the new signage.
Background
Luverne Economic Development Authority members discussed the history of the program and its proven successes at their meeting Monday morning, April 8.
“I can just about guarantee that without this program we wouldn’t have the improvements we’ve seen in our downtown corridor,” said Luverne Mayor Pat Baustian.
The Historic Façade Improvement Program was developed in 2014 to support the revitalization of Main Street and downtown Luverne while restoring buildings as closely as possible to their historic appearance from 1878-1948.
The program covers architectural costs for a professional design proposal to ensure projects align with the goal of a historic Main Street.
Funding provided through the program can be used for materials, construction, awnings, signage and lighting.
One-third of qualifying projects is paid by a grant, one-third by a low-interest loan, and one-third is owner equity.
The grant amount is capped at $21,000 per project.
To date the LEDA has invested $220,863 in grants to local businesses for façade improvements.
Of the $116,188 administered in loans, $48,966 remains to be repaid.
Businesses have invested $368,652 of their own capital for a total of $705,703 over the past four years.
Main Street Financial was one of the first businesses to complete a project in 2015 through the program.
The former Loopy’s (now Mall on Main) and Grand Prairie Events were improved in 2016.
In 2017 improved businesses included W-2 Quality Meats, Quality Printing, Redeemed Remnants, the Coffey building art gallery, Print Express, Sincerely Yours, Take 16 Brewery, Rock County History Center and Tyanna’s Boutique.
Façade projects approved in 2018 through the program included the Rock County Eye Clinic and Luverne Family Dental and the Ben Franklin Lodge building.
LEDA Director Holly Sammons said the program took awhile to gain momentum, but the financial incentives and professional support have been helpful.
“Some projects are big, some are small, but that’s the advanage of having a flexible program,” Sammons said.
Background
The Historic Façade Improvement Program was developed in 2014 to support the revitalization of Main Street and downtown Luverne while restoring buildings as closely as possible to their historic appearance from 1878-1948.
The city covers architectural costs for a professional design proposal to ensure projects align with the goal of a historic Main Street.
Funding provided through the program can be used for materials, construction, awnings, signage and lighting.
One-third of qualifying projects is paid by a grant, one-third by a low-interest loan, and one-third is owner equity.
So far the LEDA has invested $220,863 in grants to local businesses for façade improvements. Of the $116,188 administered in loans, $48,966 remains to be repaid.
Businesses have invested $368,652 of their own capital for a total of $705,703 over the past four years.
Main Street Financial was one of the first businesses to complete a project in 2015 through the program.
The former Loopy’s (now Mall on Main) and Grand Prairie Events were improved in 2016.
In 2017 improved businesses included W-2 Quality Meats, Quality Printing, Redeemed Remnants, the Coffey building art gallery, Print Express, Sincerely Yours, Take 16 Brewery, Rock County History Center and Tyanna’s Boutique.
Façade projects approved in 2018 through the program included the Rock County Eye Clinic and Luverne Family Dental and the Ben Franklin Lodge building.