LEBANON, Va. (WJHL) – If you have ever desired to open a cafe but didn’t fairly have the money to make it take place, just one Southwest Virginia city is featuring the excellent prospect for business owners across the area.
The town of Lebanon, Virginia is providing a Downtown cafe incentive grant of $50,000.
The just one-time grant will appear from the town’s normal fund and past for a period of time of two many years. City officers are accepting purposes until February 10th.
In get to be selected for the grant, the applicant ought to current options for a cafe principle that would be nestled in the coronary heart of Downtown and open up six days a week with consistent several hours.
Although town officers have been speaking about the grant opportunity considering the fact that late November, it was not right until the very last 7 days of January they introduced the incentive to the general public.
Whilst $50,000 is really a significant award, the initial announcement arrived in a tiny package deal as an advert in the classified portion of the local paper.
On Monday, Information Channel 11 spoke with Lebanon Town Manager, Drew Shortt who stated there have previously been a several candidates.
Shortt reported the city has been executing its finest to revitalize Downtown and now there is a lot of visible do the job reflecting their attempts.
Crews can be seen on Most important Road conducting design operate to generate additional parking. The town is also operating to update constructing facades and renovate the old Russell Theater.
With all of this do the job occurring now, Shortt stated it is the best time to begin considering about an anchor company that will assist enhance financial advancement they want that anchor to be a dine-in cafe with regional ties, no chains.
He mentioned the chances a business like this would deliver are limitless. “Just park and stroll close to, verify a clearly show, get a bite to take in, probably run to the brewery, coffee store, or the milkshake bar. We have all that stuff going on Downtown, we just assume the restaurant would be the last piece,” stated Shortt.
Shortt reported they’ve been saving up for an prospect like this. “It’s sort of an investment decision at the identical time for the reason that if we’re prosperous it’ll bring positions to the group, maintain people today in the community, so it would signify financial expansion on our aspect,” he reported.
So much, there have been a number of applicants, according to Shortt. 1 of the candidates is Matthew Lindamood whose group a short while ago bought the Outdated Mill residence.
Lindamood reported the grant remaining offered by the metropolis shows their devotion to progress. He claimed he knew the grant was becoming talked over as a possibility when he made a decision to obtain the Previous Mill property– and it did act as an more incentive, nevertheless, he mentioned he would’ve done this with or without the need of the grant.
Lindamood explained the residence holds a historic worth and he hopes to revitalize it and convey it back to its previous glory. If awarded the grant, he stated his business will front renovation fees and the grant will go to acquiring devices and other costs that are linked with beginning a cafe and each day functions.
“It would be good to have an region where people can get out and wander to numerous eating places and organizations and sort of replicate what Bristol did a couple of many years back,” stated Lindamood.
Not only would these funds support revive the economy Downtown, but it will straight effects individuals existing companies.
“Just possessing men and women in this article, particularly in the evening hours, that looks to be when a lot of firms are the slowest just due to the fact persons are managing about here with sporting activities and likely to the Tri-Towns to take in, that type of thing… so currently being able to preserve these folks right here would be incredible,” mentioned Andrew Mays, the Co-Proprietor of Southern Attraction Decor.
Mays and his wife opened Southern Attraction Decor in August of 2021, while they are new to the Downtown Lebanon scene, they are locals who know the prospective of the spot.
“This particular city has the possible with its historic benefit to produce into something like an Abingdon, and that would be amazing for this space,” explained Mays.
He explained the quantity of money staying supplied is an prospect that shouldn’t be passed up. “Any time you can get those people grants to aid again you, it unquestionably propels you in the right direction. That variety of aid is really necessary by any organization,” he said.
Apps will be acknowledged until finally Feb. 10. The council will choose the applications and choose who wins the grant at their meeting on Feb. 14.
Who can implement is not restricted to Lebanon inhabitants. Shortt said purposes can be from the bordering spot but the restaurant must arrive to Downtown Lebanon.
