EATON — Downtown Eaton Inc. awarded the first of its Business Exterior Improvement Grants last week, providing two downtown building owner groups with funding to aid in improvements and repairs to their structures’ facades.

Caitlin Fox and Mark Daily own the building located at 134 N. Barron Street, which currently houses the new Sunnyside Salon. The facility was constructed in approximately 1900. Fox and Daily’s project consisted of painting the exterior a new cream and gray to eliminate an aging, peeling red-colored façade. The two own another property downtown as well and plan other improvements there in the future, including renovating second story space into potential apartments.

Fox and Daily were presented a check for $1,300 on Tuesday, Oct. 3, by Downtown Eaton Inc. Vice President Cheryl Toney and several board members.

Acton House, located at 115 W. Main Street, was built in 1817 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Acton House Associates LTD, represented by Shawn Murphy, was presented with a check for $2,200 on Wednesday, Oct. 4, to help fund recent renovation and painting of the building’s front porch.

The purpose of Downtown Eaton Inc.’s Business Exterior Improvement Matching Grant Program is to improve the appearance of the downtown Eaton area by providing incentives which encourage local businesses to invest in their properties. Applications for this year were accepted through June 30.

A new application period will open in January, according to DEI officials.

The application notes that applicants must be current on all taxes and meet all zoning requirements. Applicants may only receive funding once every two years. Applicants must agree to fund 100 percent of project costs up front and receive grant funds as reimbursement.

A total of $5,000 in grant funding is available in each funding cycle. Matching grants are available for amounts up to $5,000 per project. Recipients can apply for the reimbursement of 50 percent of a project’s cost, not to exceed $5,000. The minimum grant request is $500. The grant award is reimbursed to the recipient once DEI has received appropriate documentation of a project’s cost and determines the project is complete. Eligible applicants are new and existing businesses/building owners located within downtown Eaton, as defined by the City of Eaton’s zoning map.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to landscaping projects and improvements to exterior signage, building facades, or parking lots.

For more information, email [email protected].

Reach Eddie Mowen Jr. at 937-683-4061 and follow on X @emowenjr.