Facelift for Tucson businesses, city will grant matching funds up to $20,000

An opportunity to improve the look of Tucson businesses may be available to owners.

Tucson just launched its visual improvement program.

LOOK OF TUCSON BUSINESSES MAYBE AVAILABLE TO OWNERS.

THECITY OF TUCSON JUST LAUNCHEDITS VISUAL IMPROVEMENTPROGRAM.

NINE ON YOUR SIDE'STAJA DAVIS EXPLAINS WHAT IT ISAND HOW YOU CAN APPLY.CONNECT TUCSON'S VISUALIMPROVEMENT PROGRAM OR V-I-PIS TO ENCOURAGE THEINVESTMENT AND REVITALIZATIONOF KEY COMMERCIAL AREASTHROUGH CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS.AND ITS DESIGNED TO IMPACTPROPERTIES IN NEED.

KEVINBURKE, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES,CITY OF TUCSON "WE DO HAVELIMITED FUNDING AVAILABLETHROUGH THE CBG DOLLARS FORTHIS CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

ANDSO WHAT WE'RE DOING ISOPERATING THE PROGRAM ON AFIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASISRIGHT NOW." KEVIN BURKE,ECONOMIC INITIATIVES, CITY OFTUCSON "WHAT WE WANT TO DO ISWORK WITH BUSINESS OWNERS ORPROPERTY OWNERS ON ANY TYPE OFIMPROVEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TOBE MADE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THEBUILDING, WITH THE REAL GOALOF GENERATING SOME ADDITIONALFOOT TRAFFIC." KEVIN BURKE,ECONOMIC INITIATIVES, CITY OFTUCSON "WE'RE TARGETINGSPECIFIC AREAS IN THECOMMUNITY.

AND WHAT I MEAN ISTHAT WE'RE TARGETING AREASTHAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THELOW TO MODERATE INCOMEPOPULATION AS DEFINED BYHOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT.ONE IS LA DOSE THE S 12THAVENUE CORRIDOR.

AND THEN THEOTHER ONE IS THE THRIVING THE05 AREA, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLYALL OF THE EIGHT FIVE SEVEN OHFIVE ZIP CODE." KEVIN BURKE,ECONOMIC INITIATIVES, CITY OFTUCSON "WHAT WE REALLY WOULDLIKE TO SEE IS FOR SOMEBUSINESSES THAT HAVE LEGALNONCONFORMING SIGNS, YOU KNOW,OLDER SIGNS.

WE CAN HELP YOUBRING NEW SIGNS TO THEPROPERTY THAT MEET THE CURRENTSIGNED CODE, AND, YOU KNOW,WE'LL ADD A LOT TO THE TO THEVALUE, TO THE PROPERTY AND TOTHE BUSINESS."HOTEL CONGRESS IS GEARING U