UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2023
- The application period for the Southside Business Incentive Grants CLOSED August 25, 2023.
- Applications are being ACCEPTED for the Southside Residential Program grants. There is no deadline at this time.
The Paducah Planning Department is opening the application period for the Southside Incentive Programs. After collaborations with the Southside Steering Committee, community stakeholders, businesses, and residents, the City of Paducah has created four grant programs which were approved by the Paducah Board of Commissioners in June.
Mayor George Bray said, “In this year’s budget, we set aside funds to invest in both residential and commercial Southside incentive programs. Our hope is that we receive numerous applications and exhaust our budgeted funds. This will validate the need and acceptance of this program for our Southside neighbors and will provide the platform for the City Commission to determine additional funding.”
Two of the programs are for Southside businesses that have 50 or fewer employees. Applications for the business incentive programs which include roof stabilization grants and façade beautification incentives are due by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, August 25.
The other two programs are housing incentives for residents who live in a section of the Walter Jetton and Uppertown neighborhoods. Applications for the housing incentive programs are available at any time with no deadline.
Director of Planning Nic Hutchison said, “This incentive program looks to enhance the Southside from two perspectives, commercial and residential. Similar to the downtown business incentive programs, we know that businesses appreciate assistance in stabilizing their roofs and in beautifying their facades. I encourage all small businesses in the Southside to review the applications and submit by the August 25 deadline.”
Hutchison emphasized that the housing incentive program applications are available at any time. There is no application deadline.
“We are focusing on a section of the Walter Jetton and Uppertown neighborhoods in the first phase of the housing incentive program. Helping homeowners with small projects through the microgrant program or through construction of a new home or a significant rehabilitation project will help stabilize and enhance the neighborhoods. By focusing on a smaller area than the entire Southside for this first phase, I expect that we and the neighbors will be able to more quickly see results. My hope is that within a year or so, they will be able to walk their neighborhood and point out several homes that received incentive funding,” added Hutchison.
Elected officials and Planning Department staff will be distributing housing incentive program information to residents in the Phase 1 location in the Walter Jetton and Uppertown neighborhoods during the evening of Thursday, July 27. An informational postcard also is being mailed to the nearly 350 addresses in Phase 1.
For the current fiscal year, the City of Paducah budgeted more than $100,000 for the Southside Incentive Programs.
To view the Southside Incentive Program details and applications, visit Southside Incentive Programs. Questions about the program can be directed to the Planning Department at 270-444-8690 or Southside email.
###
