Grant money available for Fresno's Downtown, Chinatown small businesses 

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - Funding is present disposable for tiny businesses located successful Downtown Fresno oregon Chinatown that are aiming to heighten their exterior appearance.

Businesses tin use for the Facade Improvement Program through the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation.

Through the City of Fresno's General Fund, determination is $360,000 acceptable speech for this program.

Each concern tin use for up to $20,000.

"It's going to assistance our tiny businesses with their image, it is going to assistance them pull much customers, and it's going to beryllium capable to beautify their extracurricular of the business," said Dora Westerlund, COO of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation.

But this programme isn't new. 

With the request truthful great, the City of Fresno and the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation brought it backmost for a 3rd round.

"And the quality this clip astir is that we are asking for a 25% lucifer by the tiny business, what we've learned is if you tiny businesses person a involvement successful it, past they volition fulfill each the paperwork required completely, and decorativeness their betterment quickly," said Fresno City Councilman Miguel Arias. 

Over 80 businesses were selected past cycle, but this round, astatine slightest 18 volition beryllium funded.

"The request is there, they're interested, you know, they privation to amended their businesses, they privation to turn and they privation to proceed operations present successful the metropolis of Fresno," shared Yurubi Ramirez, CAO of the Fresno Area Hispanic Foundation.

Businesses similar Colima Barbershop and Los Panchos Mexican Restaurant, person been capable to marque improvements.

"The tiny businesses person been precise appreciative due to the fact that they're besides the ones, usually deed with vandalism and breakage of windows and doors, and those are things that the metropolis cannot reimburse for oregon assistance with, but they person to sorb that cost," Arias said.

And the revitalization of 1 concern tin promote others to travel suit.

"With the sign, with the awnings, with the caller windows; radical are attracted to spell to that spot and they're it's a amended environment, a safer place," Westerlund said.

The deadline to use is Nov. 13. 

For much information, oregon to apply, click here.