Another local business gets facelift, thanks to grant program

Jeff Rogers with Western Window and Door works on a renovation project at the McCook Arts Center, Friday morning. The art guild qualified for a matching grant through the McCook Economic Development Corporation to assist with the project, which focuses on replacing older windows on the second floor of the Norris Avenue gallery.

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The McCook Art Guild has begun work to replace second floor windows in their Norris Avenue gallery. The window project is the third such project funded in part by the Façade Renovation Grant program, offered through the City of McCook Economic Development Fund.

The window upgrade project is one aspect of the guild's larger goal to rehab previously unused areas of the building, which they purchased in 2011.

The grant program offers match funding, on a one-for-one basis, and is administered by the McCook Economic Development Corporation.

According to MEDC Director Rex Nelson, upon completion and inspection of the project, the McCook Art Guild will receive $2140 of the total project cost of $4280 from the fund.

Homespun, a recently opened McCook restaurant located on West Third Street, also received a Façade Renovation Grant of $2400. Those funds were put toward new signage on the front of their building and also matched one-for-one, coupled with other renovation work on the exterior of their building.

The KDS Professional Building on West B Street, owned by Linda Maiden, was the first McCook business to qualify for the grant program.

Nelson said there were still program funds available, but he expected them to run out at some point and encouraged interested businesses to get their applications in as soon as possible.

The application is available on the MEDC website at www.mccookne.org. Nelson can be reached at the MEDC office, located in Keystone Business Center, or by calling 345-1200.