Hey, Downtown Oswego Businesses! Need Help Restoring Your Façade?

If you own a business in downtown Oswego and have been wanting to do some façade improvements but couldn’t afford it, you’ll want to check this out.

The Village of Oswego is offering business owners and owners of commercial buildings in downtown Oswego up to $10,000 in matching grants per façade to rehabilitate and restore the visible exteriors of existing structures.

Economic development director Vijay Gadde said any amount of businesses could apply for up to $10,000 as part of the program.

In past years there are normally one or two applications.

The program is designed to help out the downtown area, which Village president Brian LeClercq said was over 800 years old and described it as “ancient.”

“The strip centers, the retail centers, they’re doineg fine,” said Village administrator Steve Jones, who said those areas see tens of thousands of cars driving by daily. “Downtown is different. They need help.”

The program will help business owners to restore or repair architectural features, exterior walls, windows and shutters, replace or repair exterior signs or stairs, railings and exits.

The application deadline to apply for the Façade Improvement Program is Aug. 7. Those that apply are not to start any improvements prior to approval from the village board. If awarded, the applicant will be responsible for maintaining the façade and rear entrance improvements without alterations for a minimum of 5 years.

Those interested can contact the Community Development staff at 630-554-3622 to see if their business is eligible.