Five stores on Morinville’s main street will soon get a facelift funded in part by a town grant.
The Town of Morinville announced the five recipients of the inaugural Storefront Improvement Program grants May 22.
The program, which launched in February, is meant spruce up the facades of businesses along 100 Ave. (Hwy. 642) to draw more customers to Morinville’s downtown core, which has seen few improvements in recent years. The program gives owners up to $10,000 in matching funds to cover up to half the cost of store renovations, and had $50,000 available this year.
The town got nine applicants for the program, which shows the need and desire for this kind of support even during these tough economic times, town economic development officer Danielle Woolnough said in an interview.
A committee evaluated the proposed projects and chose to award $10,000 each to Sal’s Famous, 10002 100 Ave. (home to Pro Level Looks Hair Studio), Uncle Sam’s Cannabis, Asian Gardens, and Evolution Tattoo. The Gazette could not reach the owners of these companies for interviews.
Woolnough said many of these projects would result in new signs or stucco, with Sal’s and the Pro Level building planning new or bigger patios.
“People are drawn to shop in nicer-looking places,” she said, and the hope is these improvements would attract further development along 100 Ave.
Woolnough said owners have to get the necessary permits and complete their renovations this year in order to receive their grants. Many have closed or restricted public access to their stores due to the pandemic, which might make it easier to do more extensive work on their buildings.
Woolnough said she hopes to offer this grant again next year. Questions on the grant should go to [email protected].
