State OKs facelift grant

People attending Seymour's 2009 Oktoberfest should notice some new storefronts downtown.

"Our goal is to have the projected completed by Oktoberfest of next year," Trena Carter said.

Carter is a grant consultant with Administrative Resources association. The Columbus-based organization provided support for a $405,985 federal grant the city received Friday.

"It's so wonderful," Elaine Cummings Bullard said. "I'm so excited for downtown Seymour."

She spearheaded The Historic Downtown Seymour Facade Renovation Committee. She is the wife of former mayor Jim Bullard.
Carter said the grant from the Community Development Block Grant program will be used to restore the facades of 13 downtown buildings.

"We think the project will really make an impact on the downtown," Carter said.

The 13 facades to be renovated or rehabilitated were identified through a $50,000 feasibility study that also was paid for through federal funds.

The Seymour Community Center is one of the 13 projects slated to be completed through the effort.

"I'm excited to see it happen," Mayor Craig Luedeman said. "Part of the grant comes to the city with the Seymour Community Center. It will make that building safer."

The city had to apply for the grant because it is a governmental agency.

The owners of the 13 buildings also were involved because the grant requires a 20 percent local match. That match will come through city funds and money raised by the buildings' owners. Community Foundation of Jackson County also is providing matching funds.

Seymour Main Street Inc. also helped develop a loan program for building owners participating in the project, Carter said.

The actual amount of the grant is $386,652, but if 10 percent of the work is completed by a minority contractor, the remainder of the money will be released, Carter said.

"It's really a bonus," she said. "The goal is to have a minority contractor."

Work don't begin anytime soon because the grant won't be given to the city until June 30.

The project has to be completed before Dec. 31, 2009, but the goal is to have it wrapped up before Oktoberfest 2009.

By the numbers

$405,985 - Amount of a grant from Indiana to Seymour to help refurbish or renovate downtown storefronts

13 - Number of businesses expected to participate