Two businesses downtown will be renovated, thanks in part to grants provided by the St. Cloud Economic Development Authority.
Of these, Waldo’s Pizza and Dolsie’s Lunchbox Grille received $11,750 in funding.
The Downtown Exterior Improvement Grant exists to “provide an incentive to stimulate outside visible investment in downtown real estate,” city documents say.
According to city documents, EDA is offering up to $10,000 per grant while funds are available. The grant is for him a 50/50 match. So an applicant who received $10,000 has spent at least $10,000.
According to city documents, “property owners and business owners are encouraged to consider improvements that incorporate aesthetic, environmental, cultural, and historical elements to enhance the downtown character and architecture.” “These improvements should create a cohesive and engaging environment.”
According to EDA, priority is given to projects that “positively contribute to downtown revitalization efforts, deliver significant and measurable improvements not otherwise possible, and have a private-to-public ratio greater than 2:1.” increase.
Waldo’s Pizza received a $10,000 grant to use two-tone stucco for the exterior of the building and add awnings and lighting. The estimated project cost is $30,000.
Waldo’s Pizza owner Mike Henning said he underwent “major” repairs this spring, removing the vinyl siding that had covered the building’s exterior for the past 30 years.
He hopes the stucco project, partially funded by the grant, will take place this fall, but progress is weather dependent.
Henning said the new stucco will be more complementary to the overall downtown aesthetic.
“When I bought the building, I knew it was the ugliest building downtown,” he said. “That’s what we wanted to do in the future.”
Dolsie’s Lunchbox Grille also received a $1,750 grant to replace the awning.
Four projects requesting a combined $36,000 were not recommended for funding.
