DCM Grant To Help Businesses

Wednesday, March 12, 2008 Raul Garcia Jr. / The Mercedes Enterprise

The Mercedes Development Corporation is awarding monies to business and store front owners through the downtown corridor stretching from Fourth Street up to Expressway 83. In effort to help revitalize downtown and enhance the city’s façade, the MDC will match up to $5,000 to applicants that qualify and make store front, signage or code compliance renovations within a three month period.

DCM’s Project Manager Rafael Tapia said, “It seems to be going well and hopefully as projects get completed other businesses might want to use the grant for their own purposes.” The program was launched in January 2007 and since then 13 grants have been awarded. “The ultimate goal is to improve downtown and improve [business for] the local merchants.” Tapia said. “It is a fifty-fifty match and merchants have to be willing to put up the costs.”

Tres Pinos Investment Company Owner Ruben Lozano finished renovations to his building at 326 S. Texas in 7 days in February. “My building took a 360 degree turn around,” Lozano said. “The rock and the combination of colors I made should encourage people to take advantage of the grant.” Lozano says it’s surprising for people that visit his building because the walls were white and there was open space and dull colors before. “It was really awesome to see the daily activity and the improvement of the building as it progressed,” he said. “DCM approved me and then they took before and after pictures and they issued me a check.” Lozano said the grant is excellent and is surprised that more businesses have not taken advantage of the project.