EASLEY — The first deadline in the city of Easley’s Main Street Challenge 2016 is closing rapidly and it means less time for those interested to submit their application for their business idea to be located in the downtown area.
Brittney Gamble, Community Development Administrator, said Jan. 29 will be the last day to submit an application for the Main Street Challenge, an incentive program designed to entice business owners, or prospective business owners, to the downtown district.
Those with an idea, or those looking to expand their present business, will be eligible to receive monetary grants as part of the program as well.
According to Gamble, the response for the program in Easley, in its second year, has been better than 2015, but there is still time to participate.
“I’m hoping over the next two to three weeks we will see more paper applications come into the office, but we have definitely had more response than last year. This is only the second year and it does take time for programs such as this one to take hold,” Gamble said.
“There is still time to get an application and get it in,” she added. “This is a great opportunity for business owners or those looking to open their own business and even though the response has been greater this year it would be great to see more applications.”
Gamble also stated the 2015 edition of Main Street Challenge taught the committee some lessons in planning, which has helped with the increase in the number of applicants.
“We started earlier this year than last and that helped. We announced the contest in March last year with a shorter deadline for applications,” Gamble said. “This year we announced the challenge in November with press releases and have worked to keep it circulating. Adding a couple of months to the application deadline made a difference.”
Once all applications are in and the Main Street Challenge Committee has reviewed them, the next deadline will be March 4, which will be the submission of a formal business plan for review.
From the submission of business plans a group selected by the committee will move forward and make a “Finalist Pitch” of their plan to the committee.
“We hope to select up to three winners from the program which will receive the $1,000 per month, per winner,” Gamble said. “These funds may be used toward building rental, expenses, power bills, whatever the owner wishes to use it for. It’s a great incentive to look to downtown Easley.”
Those interested may visit the City of Easley website to download an application and to review the rules for the program as well. Final winners are expected to be announced April 4.