Roanoke approves 2 facade grants for Oak Street businesses

Roanoke City Council approved facade improvement grants for two Oak Street businesses June 13.

The details

The two businesses are Hey Sugar Candy Store and Babe’s Chicken Dinner House. Diane Rice, Roanoke’s community and public engagement officer, said each of the businesses will be doing the following as part of its renovations:

• Hey Sugar Candy Store will be painting, staining and conducting minor repairs to the exterior of its building and gazebo. The project cost is $14,109.41.
• Babe’s Chicken Dinner House’s renovations will include window and sign replacements. The project cost is $9,616.

The backstory

Rice said the city of Roanoke was one of the first cities in Texas to implement this type of program in February 2006.

“When the city of Roanoke created the facade grant program, we were not aware of any other cities in Texas with similar programs,” Rice said. “Through the years, many Texas cities have called about our grant program, looking to implement something similar.”

Applicants can receive up to $15,000 in matching funds for facade projects. According to Rice, the city earmarks $50,000 each year for the facade grant program.