NEWS FROM DOWNTOWN CHIPLEY

Chipley CRA Increases Loan Amount Available To Downtown Businesses courtesy Foster Folly News

The Chipley Redevelopment Agency voted April 14th to increase the loan amount available to downtown businesses for building upgrades, as well as increase the grant dollar amount available to downtown businesses for facade renovation.

For the past 13 years the CRA had limited grant funding for facade improvements to $3,000.  Monday the CRA board, on a 3-0 vote, increased that amount to $6,000.

The amount available from the Revolving Loan Fund (loaned at 2 percent interest) for building renovation had been $5,000 to $10,000 for a number a years.  With the board action on April 13th that amount jumped to $20,000.

The increases came at the request of Ted Everett, Executive Director of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

Everett said the increases would help generate more interest in owners upgrading their buildings dealing with both health and safety issues.   He said renovation costs have risen right along with everything else and the those needing to work on their property will do more with the higher dollar figure available.