ATHOL – The Selectboard has voted to add an article to the Town Meeting warrant seeking up to $20,000 to fund its match of a Vacant Storefront Program grant.
The program is overseen by the state’s Office of Business Development and its goal is to help municipalities revitalize downtown areas with vacant storefronts. Director of Planning and Community Development Eric Smith and Assistant Planner Heidi Murphy attended the board’s May 2 meeting to discuss the program and its benefit to the community.
Smith said the program provides up to a $10,000 tax credit—which the town would need to match—and would go toward a business opening in a vacant storefront. According to the program’s web page, business may only receive one award and no municipality may receive more than two annually. The amount of tax credits awarded will match municipal support. A storefront is deemed “vacant” if no tenant has occupied the space in the preceding 12 months.
“Whether it’s the Tea Garden, or Fat Boys Pizza – which never opened up, down to the two storefronts next to Los Agaves; those are some, but there’s four right there that I know of that have been vacant for at least a year,” Smith said.
Applications can be made four times a year, with the next deadline being May 17. Since the town can receive two awards per year, its application must show it can match up to $20,000 in credits.
Smith added that the North Quabbin Loan Fund Program was looked at as a possible source of the funds, but when Murphy spoke to state officials, it was ruled out because it serves a nine-town region. The downtown parking monies account was also considered, but it lacks enough funding to cover the town’s match.
“So, essentially, we have come up with $20,000,” said Smith.
It was ultimately decided to ask Athol voters for the funds in the form of a warrant article.
“I’m hoping we can find some entrepreneurs who want to come in and see this as incentive,” Smith said. “I don’t have a magic wand. I don’t have anybody on a list right now. So, it’s speculative, I guess you could say.”
Murphy said officials were looking at software that would help generate vacancy reports, allowing for direct outreach to property owners to make them aware of the program.
Murphy explained that most communities participating in the program have combined their matching funds with other revenue sources to create loans. Most often, she said, these have been used to fund facility improvements or cover relocation costs.
As the discussion wound down, Board member Rebecca Bialecki made a motion to accept the proposal to add Article 30 to the Annual Town Meeting warrant in June asking if voters would approve the use of Free Cash to fund the town’s match. Board Chair Andy Sujdak and members Kala Fisher and Bialecki voted in favor of the motion. Brian Dodge and Stephen Raymond voted in opposition.
Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@gmail.com.