Dateline: June 5, 2008

CEDC awards first storefront grant

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation made its first award under its new Façade Grant Program this week.

Every Nook & Cranny received $1,055.20 following a review of that business’ application at the regular CEDC Board meeting Monday night. CEDC President Steve Hall presented the check to store co-owner Terri Floyd Tuesday.

“I’m thrilled to get it,” Floyd said. “Now we can do something else to make improvements.”

Floyd and her partner Virginia Patten completed a renovation of their storefront at 208 S. Kearney last December, but the project still fit the guidelines of the grant program for this fiscal year.

Chris and Terri Ford of Finders Keepers redesigned and painted the storefront and installed antique ceiling tiles on part of the front.

“I just let them do their thing,” Floyd said. “I was their guinea pig, and I am very happy with the results.”

The new look has generated a lot of attention, she said.

“We’ve gotten a lot of compliments on it.”

Every Nook & Cranny opened its doors as The Nook in 1977 and sells a wide variety of gifts, jewelry, and clothing.

The CEDC has budgeted $10,000 for this year’s Façade Grant Program, which provides fifty-fifty matching grants up to a maximum of $2,000 per project for properties on a three-block stretch of Kearney Street between First and Fourth Streets.

Projects eligible for consideration could be anything from a coat of paint to new signage to a complete rehabilitation of a storefront.

The program will run through the close of this fiscal year, which ends September 30, 2008. The program’s future will depend on its success this year.

Every Nook & Cranny submitted the first and only application since the program was approved in April. The CEDC Board will next meet to consider grant applications on July 7 at 5:15 p.m. in City Hall.