More Seek Funds for Tapo St. Projects

More Tapo Street business owners are requesting applications for revitalization grants, according to an economic development update released last week by the city manager’s office.

With more than $137,000 already spent sprucing up Tapo Street facades, businesses are apparently taking notice, said Mark Oyler, city economic development analyst.

“When we first marketed the program, we had only a couple applications right away,” Oyler said. “It’s now kind of a snowball effect. People are rushing to get their applications in.”

When the grant program began in summer 1998, city officials mailed notices to business owners on the street to let them know the city would match every dollar of improvements, up to $20,000, Oyler said. Now that some renovation projects are complete, other owners are signing up for the program.

“It hasn’t been necessary to market [the program] in recent months,” he said.

The city has received 24 grant applications from Tapo Street-area businesses, Oyler said. Of those, seven are complete, two are under construction, nine are in the design phase, and six are on hold, he said.

“The city has not rejected any applications,” Oyler said.

Businesses eligible for the grant money generally are on Tapo Street from Highway 118 to Los Angeles Avenue, and along Los Angeles on either side of Tapo Street. The city has $280,000 in matching funds available this year to business owners and property owners interested in upgrades, Oyler said.