GREENSBORO, N.C. — Small business owners in Downtown Greensboro will soon have an opportunity for a face lift.
Downtown Greensboro Inc. is among 20 cities throughout North Carolina awarded a total of $700,000 from The Duke Energy Foundation.
It is a part of its small business grant program.
Little Pep in Winston-Salem got the grant last year. The wine bar was awarded a portion of a $25,000 grant to transform its storefront.
The owners told WFMY News 2 the revamp of their business is truly life changing.
"We had some big dreams for what we thought the exterior could look like including: hand painted signage, restoring the old windows at the front and taking down old awnings," co-owner of Little Pep Rebekah Rhoden shared.
The wine bar in Downtown Winston-Salem has served its community for eight years.
This year, Downtown Greensboro Inc. said it wants to help nearly a dozen small businesses in the area revamp it's storefronts.
The city got the same $25,000 grant from Duke Energy.
A representative from the organization told us stores within The Business Improvement District with less than 50 employees can apply.
"We're using these funds to create a new grant program which we are calling The Vibrancy Grant. This will provide businesses downtown with up to $2,500 in grant funding. Businesses can use it for a variety of expenses to help beautify their space," Joseph Schorr explained.
He is the Economic Development Officer for Downtown Greensboro Inc.
Schorr said the $2,500 grant is reimbursable and can be used for the beautification of storefronts.
"It can't be used for things such as payroll, utilities, or rent," he said.
Duke Energy said the $700,000 investment into our state speaks to the economic growth in North Carolina.
"Small businesses really define the character of a community and we're proud to support them," spokesperson Garrett Poorman said.
Downtown Greensboro Inc. said applications for the grant open September 9th and close October 11th.
The link can be found on its website.
Winners should be announced at the end October.