In an effort to beautify the downtown DeKalb area, the city has allocated up to $50,000 to be used in their storefront improvement program.

The city is taking applications until Sept. 1 from commercial property owners who wish to improve the exterior of their stores. The goal is to attract more shoppers to the central retail area by creating more aesthetically pleasing downtown property.

Linda Boyer, city special projects coordinator, said a great deal of interest has been expressed in the program and about 19 businesses are in the final steps of application. “An unofficial in-house goal was to get 10 property owners to participate in the program. We’ve been getting a great deal of feedback from people who wish to get wide-range improvements,” she said.

The plan originated when several independent property owners approached the city to determine if there was any program for this kind of work, Boyer said. The program has “ignited the redevelopment spirit in the downtown area,” she said.

The loans show the commitment of the city to bring in new businesses and to improve existing businesses. The loans are subject to public consideration by the DeKalb City Council, which can reject any portion of the proposal.

Approval is based on the guidelines set by the Campbell Design Group, which is responsible for the comprehensive plan of the city. In addition, once an applicant receives a loan, he or she must start renovations within a three-month period or the loan can be withdrawn.

The program is open to owners of commercial property located between the boundaries of the Kishwaukee River and Eighth Street and Oak and Franklin streets. A qualified applicant may receive a five-year no-interest loan which provides $5,000 or up to 50 percent of the total project cost.

The funds can be used for exterior rehabilitation needs such as tuckpointing, painting, outside window and light repairs, sand and chemical blasting, sign repairs and other structural repairs.