West Chester Twp. grant program awards more than $100K to local businesses

Sue Kiesewetter
·3 min read

WEST CHESTER TWP. – Eighteen small businesses will receive up to $114,000 through West Chester Township’s inaugural Spark grant program.

Created last November, the program serves as a financial incentive to improve properties by owners or tenants.

Thirty applicants submitted projects for the grants. Winners have six months to complete their projects and submit receipts for reimbursement up to the amount of the awarded grant. The maximum grant allowed was $10,000.

“Those selected rose to the top in terms of the larger impact they might have in an area of the township that could benefit from aesthetic improvement,” said Katy Kanelopouos, the township’s economic development manager.

“The goal is to give a jumpstart that will inspire other property owners to make improvements," she said.

Submissions were scored on quality of design; impact to the larger business neighborhood; location, with projects along the U.S. 42 corridor scoring getting more points; job creation and shared investment of the applicant.

Half of the 18 projects funded received grants for the full amount requested and the rest received grants of up to 75 percent of the requested amount, said Barbara Wilson, township spokeswoman.

“We wanted to support as many of the businesses as we could – everybody was very close in scoring,’’ Wilson said. “Those with higher scores ended up with up to 100 percent (of their request).”

Trustee Ann Becker said she was pleased with the submissions.

“It’s been amazing seeing the small businesses and what they’re doing. Many of the business owners were going to do the outside of their buildings and that cascaded into more,’’ Becker said.

“It’s been great to see all these small businesses invest in themselves. It’s truly been a spark for our small businesses.”

Once the projects are completed a team from the township will revisit each grantee to make sure the work was completed and then reimburse them based on submitted receipts up to the grant amount.

Becker said trustees will evaluate the success of the program before deciding whether to offer another round of grants.

Projects awarded grants totaling 100 percent of request:

  • Animal Hospital of West Chester, U.S. 42: $6,642, improve, update signage

  • Saxon Financial, U.S. 42: $10,000, update signage

  • Salon BelAire, U.S. 42: $4,250, repair front parking area

  • Timberview Office Park, U.S. 42: $10,000, replace rotted decking in front of building

  • Kaycie Land Investment/Scott’s Awards/Carpetile, U.S. 42: $9,365, update signage, parking lot

  • LuLu Sweets Boutique, Cox Lane: $1,608, create outdoor dining area

  • Pickle Lodge, Kingsgate Way: $10,000, enhance entrance at an old building with a new use

  • Raton Salon, Cincinnati-Dayton Road: $1,525, improve entry signage

  • Bunnell Electric, Cincinnati-Dayton Road: $10,000, new front door, windows, signage

  • Projects awarded grants totaling 75 percent of request:

  • Premier Shooting and Training, Ohio 747: $7,500, exterior mural

  • Arrow Brothers/Further Financial, Muhlhauser Road: $3,712, decorative exterior lighting

  • BTC Investments, Ohio 747: $3,300, removal of dead shrubs, replanting

  • Entertrainment Junction, Squire Court: $7,500, painting exterior of the building fronting I-75

  • Golden Day Boutique, Cincinnati-Dayton Road: $7,500, add large display window at front of building to create retail atmosphere in corridor

  • Kingsgate Insurance, Cincinnati-Dayton Road: $5,433, update signage

  • Welling & Company, Cincinnati-Dayton Road: $5,138, awning at the Olde West Chester street front

  • Xquisite Cutz, Kingsgate Way: $3,828, replace deteriorated signage, improvements to exterior

  • Fath Regal Properties, Regal Lane: $6,780, exterior painting, new doors

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Eighteen businesses will receive up to $114,000 in West Chester Twp.