Mount Vernon is launching a $500,000 grant program aimed at helping small businesses recover from the pandemic and attracting new stores to the city. The program will provide grants of up to $25,000 to eligible businesses that can bring new offerings to vacant ground-floor spaces.
According to Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard, incentivizing and supporting the creation of new businesses in Mount Vernon is crucial. She noted that many residents are spending money in neighboring communities that offer businesses not currently present in Mount Vernon. The focus is on attracting a variety of new businesses such as sporting goods and hobby shops, bookstores, florists, upscale boutiques, art galleries, pop-up dining establishments, coffee shops, theaters, bowling alleys, and unique experiences like axe-throwing and karaoke.
The grants will be funded by American Rescue Plan funds received by the city and will cover construction costs for new or existing businesses as well as facade renovations. Businesses located in the city’s primary shopping district along 4th and Gramatan avenues from 3rd Street downtown to Fleetwood will be eligible to apply for the grants. Applications are available on the city website starting Tuesday with a deadline for submission on June 24th.
Recipients of the grants will be evaluated based on their management practices and the innovation of their products and services by a group led by Robin Mack, Mount Vernon’s director of business development. According to Mack, the goal is to maintain Mount Vernon’s unique urban environment with a friendly town-like atmosphere where customers feel welcomed and appreciated while also creating more diverse shopping options for residents.
