Façade grants create boost for some Biloxi businesses

Most businesses need a boost now more than ever and there’s good news for some businesses in Biloxi.

Some local business owners will soon get help dressing up their stores in the Biloxi Main Street District.

- most businesses need a boost no- more than ever, and there's - good news for some businesses i- biloxi.

News 25's lorraine- weiskopf shows us how some- local business owners will soon- get help dressing up- their stores in the biloxi main- street district.- - <nats>- marley roberts is a young - entrepreneur.

- the 19-year-old's passion for - music led him to open marley's- music in this historic brick- - - - building in biloxi's main stree- district earlier this year, but- covid forced the business to- shut down just three days after- opening.- like other businesses here, - marley's music is back up-and-- running, and with the re- - openings, city businesses need- curb appeal now more than ever- - - - to reel back in customers.- marley roberts, owner of marley- music says, "something we have to reel back in customers.- marley roberts, owner of marley- music says, "something we have talked about but- - - - haven't really gone for yet is - rye die mural.

We think it woul- really help us stand out and it- fits."

Lorraine weiskopf, a reporter,- says "back in february we covered the addition of 10 new- murals in biloxi's main street- area.

Thanks to the facade- grants now available for biloxi- main street businesses, busines- owners like marley roberts can- get a - helping hand making this- historic area even more - vibrant."

Bobby gillon, biloxi main - street's economic vitality- chairman, says "the biloxi mainn street facade- grants are part of incentive- program funded by mississippi - power.

It is a program intended- to help make it a little bit- more affordable for - business owners or property - owners with signage or cleaning- up, whatever work - needs to be done."

Bobby gillon is the economic- vitality chairman of the biloxi- main- street district.- he sees these grants a way to - give back to businesses that- have occupied and invested in - older buildings in this histori- part of town, money that can be- used to bring more new life to- the area.

- bobby gillon, economic vitality- chairman, says, "we absolutely hope to get - more murals.

We have plenty - slated forth next couple of - months."

This facade grant can be applied to expenses for many- different enhancements.

- kait sukiennik is co-owner of - the greenhouse biloxi, a coffee- shop next door to marley's- music.- - - - she plans to apply for a facade- grant and to pour the - money into tastefully dressing- up the greenhouse - here in biloxi.

- kait sukiennik, co-owner of - greenhouse biloxi, says "we do - - - live in an old building so we - don't want to take away from- that character.

We just want to- put a little- paint on it, change our awning- and maybe get a new sign thats- more attractive and - - - - maybe has a bigger logo on it."

Any business here in biloxi's - main street area can apply for- the - grant.- the business must provide a - 25-percent money match for- the grant awarded, which could- be up to $750.

In biloxi, - lorraine weiskopf news 25 - - applications are available now- and will be accepted- through june 29th.- to get an application or for- more information on - - - - the facade grant program, email- mainstreet @ biloxi dot ms