NEWS FROM DOWNTOWN CHIPLEY

Chipley CRA asked to increase grants for downtown excerpts from Washington County News

Washington County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ted Everett had good news Thursday night for Chipley City Council when he provided an update of progress of the Community Redevelopment Agency.

Everett said at the next CRA meeting on Monday the board of directors will be asked to raise the amount available for façade grants from $3,000 to $5,000. The board will also be asked to approve raising the amount for business renovation loans from $10,000 to $20,000 or $30,000. These loans are available at just two percent interest. The board is also looking at some sort of uniformity plan for downtown renovation.

Everett said the Chamber and the CRA are working with the recently reformed Downtown Merchants’ Association. Paul Goulding and the Goulding Agency are preparing a website for DMA that would be free for a year.

The next Chipley Downtown Merchants' Association meeting is scheduled for April 14. They will meet with the group from the University of Florida doing the study on the local area at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Call 638-2535 for more information.