Washington’s City Council, during its Nov. 6 meeting, authorized the mayor and the city’s chief financial officer to sign contract documents related to a $50,000 grant for downtown revitalization projects.

After submitting an application in September, the city received the grant from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The projects include improvements to building facades, sidewalk and other pedestrian-related improvements and landscaping in the central business district.

The city plans to allocate $40,000 to its façade improvement program and $10,000 for landscaping.

The façade improvements include secondary entrances. Possible candidates for such improvements include the former Pamlico Provisions building, the building housing Scoops, the former Little Shoppes of Washington building and other buildings with rear facades facing the waterfront. Some of the landscaping work includes Stewart Parkway.

The grant agreement expires July 1, 2019, unless terminated earlier under terms specified in the agreement. The city receives the money within 30 days of the Department of Commerce receiving the signed agreement.

The city’s façade improvement program could be in for changes. Last year, City Manager Bobby Roberson said he wanted to study the program, possibly modifying it so the city gets “more bang for its buck.”

The program improves exteriors of buildings in downtown Washington. It provides funds to help replace awnings, replace windows, repaint bricks and make other aesthetic upgrades. At one time, the program paid for roof repairs and landscaping. Property owners/business owners applied for grants. Applications were reviewed, and grant recipients selected. Grant recipients were required to contribute money toward their projects. The city would pay up to $2,000 for a project.

Sometimes the program’s funds would be depleted and the city would provide more money.

About a year ago, Roberson said one option to fund the program could be establishing a municipal service district in the downtown area. The majority of municipalities in North Carolina that have Main Street programs (designed to bring economic development to central business districts) have MSDs, according to Roberson. Downtown property owners and business owners would have to buy into the advantages of having an MSD for it to be successful, he said.