Center City of Amarillo awards $7000 grant to the Ice Ranch

Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News
·2 min read

On Tuesday, the Amarillo Ice Ranch was awarded a $7,000 Façade Grant from Center City of Amarillo for its improved signage of its facility.

Façade Grants are matching grants that improve the appearance of downtown buildings. These grants may include signage, windows, streetscapes or exterior design elements. Center City’s all-volunteer committee selects local businesses that improve the exteriors of their buildings to make the downtown area more appealing to the public.

Center City Executive Director Beth Duke presented the ceremonial check to Eric Andersen, president of the Amarillo Ice Ranch, for the improvements to the facility's signage.

Center City Executive Director Beth Duke presents a $7,000 Facade Grant to Eric Andersen, president and owner of the Amarillo Ice Ranch, on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Center City Executive Director Beth Duke presents a $7,000 Facade Grant to Eric Andersen, president and owner of the Amarillo Ice Ranch, on Tuesday, Nov. 16.

“Since 1996, the grant program has invested more than $1.3 million in our downtown," Duke said. “We are making downtown better one building at a time.”

The Amarillo Ice Ranch is a year-round ice rink that opened in September on the historic Santa Fe Depot's grounds in downtown Amarillo. This new family-friendly venue promotes youth and adult hockey, figure skating and other winter sports. The Ice Ranch also offers public skating, with skates available for rent.

“The Ice Ranch will be an important part of Center City’s mission to bring more people downtown,” said Duke. “This is such an exciting new family-friendly addition on the historic grounds of the Santa Fe Depot. This venue is one more attraction to bring families downtown.”

The new Amarillo Ice Ranch signage that earned a Center City of Amarillo Façade Grant, totaling $7,000 for the facility, Tuesday, Nov. 16.
The new Amarillo Ice Ranch signage that earned a Center City of Amarillo Façade Grant, totaling $7,000 for the facility, Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Duke stated that the Amarillo Ice Ranch has now given the building, which was previously used for storage for years, a new life.

“We are very grateful to receive this grant; we are humbled to be a part of the great downtown area," Andersen said.

“A Façade Grant is a great example of giving businesses an incentive to do a little more to improve the streetscape of their buildings to make the whole downtown look more appealing,” Duke said. “Since this is a matching grant, we know the business owners have put far more than the matching amount to improve their buildings.

“The committee takes the process quite seriously while looking at the impact and design as to what it will add to downtown Amarillo.”

For information about Center City or the Façade Grant program, contact Duke at 372-6744. The deadline for applying for a Façade Grant from Center City will be May 1.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Center City of Amarillo awards $7000 grant to the Ice Ranch