Downtown Coldwater shows major progress with projects, grants, businesses in 2022
COLDWATER — Designation as a Main Street community in 2022 for downtown was just one major achievement for downtown Coldwater. But more changes are coming in 2023, according to Audrey Tappenden, the city’s Main Street Director and coordinator for the Downtown Development Authority.
Tappenden made presentations to the city council and DDA this week of the over $1.5 million invested.
The city became a Main Street-qualified location for its core area, making it eligible for services and grants.
“This is an area of about 14 blocks, 39 acres, 129 parcels with 12 restaurants in the downtown and 84 residential units,” Tappenden said. "It includes 898 public parking spaces."
For the state fiscal year from October to October, “our first year in the Main Street program, we had about $535,000 of private investment in that core area.” Investors purchased buildings valued at $800,000. This does not include grant funds that contributed towards large redevelopment projects exceeding $700,000.
Tappenden said the amounts do not reflect just how much is being invested now for the grants awarded because funds are not received until work is completed. These numbers will show up in 2023.
Prior story Main Street officials conduct meetings on downtown redevelopment
New downtown businesses include Birdies and Brews, Blush and Ivory bridal store, and the Hope Cafe/Chameleon opened.
Tappenden said two new liquidation stores in the former Northwood Coffee and the former Daily Reporter building will soon open.
Jungle Pets will open Feb. 4 at 38 W. Chicago selling exotic pets and food.
Rainbow Connection opened at 48 W. Chicago selling items and providing services to the LGBTQ community. It received $5,000 toward replacing all storefront windows and framing.
Also receiving DDA improvement funds were Donner Properties LLC that received $1,500 toward exterior improvements at 44 N. Hanchett St. It was for updated siding and windows.
Hope Café/The Chameleon received $2,346 toward signage and gooseneck lighting at its new and expanded location on West Chicago Street
The state Community Revitalization program provided $250,000 toward the renovation at Eight South Monroe Street, the Caywood building. Tappenden said the developer spent $430,000 plus the grant. This does not include the building purchase.
Public Spaces, Community Places grant awarded $50,000 to the DDA a $70,000 in local funds were raised to match. Money went toward the renovation at 60 W. Chicago St. for the relocation of the Children's Museum to the downtown.
City development director Lisa Miller said, the museum expects to open in March.
“We'll be announcing in March another donation for not only the DDA but towards the Children's Museum.”
Southern Flats, the seven-unit apartment in the former Gillespie’s Funeral Home expects to be ready to rent also in March with interior renovation currently underway.
Tappenden said the state provided two grants totaling $27,000 through the Match on Main program. These were to Shemel’s Carpets completing technical upgrades to the business and architectural renderings for El Taco Loco for improvements and apartments in their South Monroe Street building.
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The city received the awards in the two rounds of grants in 2022. The first rounds of grants for 2023 must be presented next month. “Businesses have until February 12 to apply if they have projects that are eligible, and they're ready to complete those, she said.
“We have six businesses participating in Optimize Main Street, which are grants for tech improvements at a value of up to $15,000 to those businesses,” Tappenden said.
— Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @DReidTDR.
This article originally appeared on Coldwater Daily Reporter: Downtown Coldwater shows progress with projects, grants, businesses
