Washington’s City Council, during its meeting Monday, appropriated $10,090 to the city’s façade grant program.

The city had already allocated $10,000 for the program in the current fiscal year budget. The latest allocation, drawn for the city’s contingency fund, will allow the city to help pay for other façade improvements in the downtown area.

John Rodman, the city’s cultural and community services director,  requested the $10,090 be transferred from the city’s general fund to the façade fund.

Applications for funding received by the city (but not accompanied by receipts) and requested amounts include the following:

• Wash and Wag, Doug Mercer, Main Street, $1,750;

• Building behind Grub Brothers, Charles Phillips, $2,000;

• 129 N. Market St., Page family, $2,000;

• William Mayo (no building listed), $2,000;

• 109 Gladden St., Lisabeth Hoffman, $2,000;

• 112 S. Respess St., Keith Mason, $2,000.

The following 2013 façade projects have been paid:

• 100 E. Main St. and 103-109 N. Market St., Wayland Sermons;

• 141 N. Market St., Angie Shiflett;

• 225-227 W. Main St., Jim Fortescue;

• Williams & Associates.

The following projects have been completed and receipts turned in to the city:

• 121 N. Market St., Betty Stewart, $2,000;

• 117 N. Market St., Wayland Sermons, $2,000;

• 110 W. Second St., Hood Richardson, $1,556;

• 118 N. Market St., Ward Photography, $2,000.

In the past, the program provided funds to help replace awnings, replace windows, repoint bricks and make other aesthetic upgrades. This time around, the program will pay for roof repairs and landscaping, along with items it paid for in the past. Property owners/business owners apply for grants. Those applications are reviewed, and grant recipients are selected. Grant recipients are required to contribute money toward their projects.

The program, which began in fiscal year 1991-1992, awarded 143 grants totaling $256,660 through fiscal year 2007-2008, according to city records. The total cost of improvements made to the downtown properties during that period came to $1,164,784, according to city records. There were no grants awarded in fiscal year 2003-2004.
Initially, the city’s contributions to the program came from an annual principal-and-interest