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Painesville City Council recently approved the creation of a program to provide financial help to property owners looking to renovate buildings for business use
Council approved the creation of the Painesville Commercial Retention and Redevelopment Grant Program at its July 20 meeting. The vote was 6-0, with Councilman Nick Augustine absent
“The fund is available through this program for facade improvements or interior improvements for property owners who are renovating their buildings in order to attract new business and create jobs,” said Painesville Economic Development Director Sue Crotty
Crotty said that grant awards would be reviewed by the city administration and council’s Economic Development Committee and no award would be higher than $25,000. The city appropriated $100,000 for the program in 2026
The committee approved $25,000 grants for two projects in June, said Councilman and Economic Development Committee member Derrick Abney
One grant was for Sidewalk Cafe Inc., which owns 1-7 S. State St. Abney said that funding would help with “painting, flooring and masonry work,” which are a portion of the renovation project
“We’re pretty excited, because they’re planning to renovate and be more aggressively seeking tenants for their retail and office space in that building,” Crotty told council. “So, they’re making improvements there.”
Another grant was for work at 154 Main St. Abney said that would help with the “masonry work and basement stabilization and reconfiguration” portions of the planned work there
Crotty said that the building has “long been vacant.” She added that the new owners plan to have commercial space on the first floor and apartments on the second and third
The legislation that council approved authorizes the use of money from the city’s general fund “for building construction, renovation and property improvements.”
“The city desires to encourage new business investment, redevelopment of underutilized properties and expansion of existing businesses through a grant program that assists with building construction, rehabilitation, renovation, site improvements and related capital investment,” the legislation said later
A report from Crotty said that the program “will allow the city to fairly evaluate projects that do not require a development agreement for grant assistance.”
The report added that applications will be similar to previous grants the city awarded using American Rescue Plan Act money
Crotty said that anyone interested in the grants can contact the Economic Development Office for the application. She can also answer questions and walk applicants through the process
The city’s Economic Development Office can be reached at 440-392-5795. Crotty can be reached directly at 440-392-5806 or scrotty@painesville.com
“We have a limited amount of funds, but as funding is available, we will consider applications,” she said
