Willis EDC Offers Facade Grant Program To Downtown Businesses

WILLIS, TX — The common idiom, 'you can't judge a book by its cover,' doesn't always translate for shoppers deciding where to spend their hard earned dollars.

Studies show that shoppers believe the appearance of the outside of a business is important to them when selecting a store to patronize.

The City of Willis Economic Development Corporation (EDC) offers financial help for Willis business owners considering ways to improve the exterior of their space through the EDC Facade Grant Program.

The EDC strives to promote the development and expansion of business enterprises within the City of Willis by increasing the aesthetic and architectural value of the city’s façades.

By improving the exterior appearance of the city's businesses, the resulting increase will benefit members of the community.

“You can call it superficial, but beauty and profit start on the outside when it comes to attracting visitors and retaining your customer base. And the Willis Economic Development Corporation had that in mind when developing the Facade Grant Program,” said Nancy Petrus, chairman of the Facade Grant Committee.

The decision to establish the program developed from a desire to support and encourage small businesses to reinvest in the downtown and neighborhood business districts not on words alone, but by allocating funds to help businesses make those improvements, according to Petrus.

Willis businesses may be eligible for a match reimbursement totaling up to 50 percent of the cost of their exterior improvement projects if the side being improved is visible from the following areas: State Highway 75 from Calhoun Street to the southernmost city limits, and FM 1097 from Highway 75 to Interstate 45. All other businesses within the city limits are eligible for a 25 percent match reimbursement.

Interested businesses must meet specific requirements and complete an application for consideration by the Facade Grant Committee.

A project must exceed $2,000 and reimbursement funds will not exceed $5,000. Routine maintenance such as painting, masonry work, fencing and lighting, must be part of a larger project to be considered.

New construction projects are eligible to apply for the following items: fencing, signage, awnings and landscaping.

Chris Prak manages the business plaza which includes Sam's Liquor, Sam's Donuts, Willis Office Centre and Phone Hub, located at 603 and 605 W. Montgomery in Willis.

When he learned about the Facade Grant Program his first impression was that it seemed too good to be true. He found that the program was indeed real, and is grateful for the EDC's support of the plaza's recent parking lot improvement project.

Prak has overseen the removal of all asphalt in both parking lots and the installation of concrete parking and partial replacement in the doughnut and liquor stores' drive-thru areas.

“With TxDOT's previous widening of 1097, that really slowed down our business and a lot of the small businesses on 1097 were impacted by the construction itself,” he said. “So with the facade grant that was offered for small businesses, I believe that really helped out.”

Prak is confident that the plaza's parking improvement will impact the success of the businesses located there and would encourage other Willis businesses to consider the program.

“I believe it will create and generate more traffic flow with more of an appealing plaza for consumers to come in and check us out. I think this will help to attract newcomers,” he said. “It's a great program. Give it a try if you're looking to improve your appearance from the exterior point of view.”

The Willis community is experiencing significant growth, and more is expected with the construction of The Woodlands Hills, a Howard Hughes development bringing over 4,500 new homes to the area, and other projected developments. As Willis grows, the Facade Grant Committee is eager to lend a hand to small businesses.

“Every small business should look into the Facade Grant Program and see how it can aid them in some of the improvements they have envisioned,” said Petrus. “Small business has the power to create a downtown that becomes a destination for shopping, eating and entertainment. I believe that entrepreneurs in our city share the same vision. There's no denying first impressions really do count.”

Image: Willis EDC