DBO awards new  improvement grants

Four Downtown Bettendorf businesses will share in more than $30,000 awarded through the new Façade Improvement and Commercial Interior Improvement grants by the Downtown Bettendorf Organization (DBO).

DBO announced these grant recipients and projects:

Façade Improvement Grants

  • Tango Salon, 836 State St.; Leeann Themas, business and property owner; new façade work including milling headers, filling potholes and blacktopping the parking lot.
  • ADSQ, 321 17th; Steve Cotton, business and property owner; will sealcoat a parking lot at 17th and Grant streets, remove a rock garden in front and add new pavers on two sides of the building.

Interior Improvement Grants 

  • Adventurous Brewery, 1040 State St.; Jon Manatt, business owner, and Barron Sexson, property owner; remodel the building’s front section to add a tasting room.
  • The Bulldog Arms, 1716 State St.; Josh Howat, business owner, and Paul Goettsch, property owner; new air conditioning system.

The new pilot program, which will distribute a total of $50,000 a year, replaces the previous city-run façade grant program, said DBO Executive Director Ryan Jantzi.  

The City of Bettendorf and Downtown Bettendorf’s Self-Supported Municipal Improvement District (SSMID) contributed $25,000 each to fund the new program. The SSMID is managed by DBO, an affiliate of the Quad Cities Chamber.

Mr. Jantzi said the $30,757 awarded in the first round will leverage a total of $170,418 of façade and building improvements across the four downtown properties.

Ms. Themas applauded DBO for her facade grant. “It is a great program to assist businesses with property improvements, and a possible incentive for some to locate to Downtown Bettendorf,” the Tango Salon owner said. “A new parking lot improves infrastructure and adds curb appeal to property. It’s a win-win for my business and downtown.”

Mr. Jantzi said funding is available to any business or property within the SSMID. Its boundaries are described as “point to point” from Martha’s Point on the western edge to Premiere Auto on the east end and north from the Mississippi River to roughly Brown Street, which runs behind K & K Hardware.

Businesses and property owners can apply for up to $15,000 or 50% of the project’s total cost – whichever is less. Grant applications are available here.

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