Rising Sun setting up a business facade grant program

RISING SUN — Though it is still in its draft stages, the mayor and commissioners got a look at a program that could provide funding for businesses in town limits looking to improve their properties and the appearance of Rising Sun.

The Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program has a $50,000 allotment of money from the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development to start, but Calvin Bonenberger, town administrator, said the longterm goal is for this to become a self-funding program in which businesses can improve their properties with a combination of grants and low-interest loans from a revolving fund supported by the business community.

"But we're looking to change the name of the program, which gives people the impression all you're doing is improving the outside of the building," Bonenberger said.

He suggested calling it The Rising Sun Business Revitalization and Improvement Grant Program.

In the text of the draft, the goal is "to encourage private investment in the improvement, rehabilitation, accessibility, functionality and safety of commercial properties located within the town's Sustainable Communities Area."

That means it has to be within the corporate limits of Rising Sun. And it's not just for paint and exterior improvements.

"We want to build long-term sustainability, not just throw money at something," Bonenberger said.

This means a business could apply, for example, for the installation of fire suppression, making the building ADA compliant, or even upgrading software or point-of-sales equipment.

"The main thing is we want economic independence and sustainability," he said.

While the fund will start with DHCD and town budgeted money, Bonenberger sees that changing.

"As the town starts to grow and prosper, more funds could be put into it," he said, indicating it could become self-sustaining.

The program would be available to tenant businesses with the property owner's permission. Also eligible would be mixed-used properties with commercial availability at street level and residential above, although the residential units could not benefit from the program outside of exterior improvements to the structure as a whole.

Bonenberger said that because the town is more than 150 years old, it is likely some of the downtown business district buildings that could apply would likely garner the attention of the Maryland Historic Trust. The proposal addresses that possibility.

"Improvements to historically significant buildings shall preserve or complement the building's historic architectural character to the extent required by MHT," the measure reads.

As for the allotment of funds, the program would provide no more than $20,000 to an applicant in a two-year period. Applicants would be required to contribute a percentage of the funds needed, depending on the amount of the grant awarded. The plan is to add low-interest loans so the small businesses the town hopes to attract would be able to participate.

"North East has a low-interest revolving loan program," Bonenberger said, indicating Rising Sun would likely copy that program. "We want to make it revolving but not burdensome. We want to generate enough money to keep it revolving but not make it cost prohibitive."

"We don't want this for a big box store or fast food to come to town," Bonenberger added. "This is for small businesses, for the entrepreneurial spirit."

Part of the conversation during this development process would be the formation of a committee to grant the funds and a scoring system.