Tomball council approves $40k grant for local business facade improvements

As part of an initiative to improve the appearance of Old Town Tomball, city council approved the authorization of a $40,000 grant on Oct. 5 to rehabilitate a former insurance agency building into a new snowball storefront.

Sorting out details

The Old Town Facade Improvement Grant is overseen by the Tomball Economic Development Corporation and provides $40,000-$50,000 in funds for local business owners. In order to be eligible for the grant, a business must:

• Be located within the Old Town Tomball district

• Make a "major" visual change to the facade of the building

• Meet all zoning and permitting regulations

"This program is designed for properties that are within the Old Town area, and it can help incentivize improvements that are exterior as well as interior," TEDC Executive Director Kelly Violette said in the meeting.

Zooming in

The grant was awarded to the owners of Sno Angels Sno Balls, who are remodeling the former A-Max Auto Insurance building located at 525 W. Main St.

"It is a great example of our Old Town Facade Improvement Grant," Violette said. "It's a huge investment in a really small building right on Main Street, which is very exciting."