Mantua – Since Covid-19 has had a detrimental affect on small businesses across the nation, closer to home the Downtown Mantua Revitalization Corporation (DMRC) decided to put their own spin on the ‘shop local’ movement. This spring, the group voted to reactive their Small Business Grant program, offering $400 to help fund projects to promote businesses within the Village.
Under the direction of chairperson Ted Bixler, 50 Mantua Village businesses were provided with an application and information about the opportunity. The application stipulated that the funds, if granted, should be used to fund a project to enhance each business’s presence and visibility in the community. Potential projects included new signage, landscaping, or advertising, although requests were not limited to those specific suggestions.
According to Bixler, the DMRC was thrilled to approve the 12 applications that were submitted, offering financial support to local businesses during these challenging economic times. He noted that each recipient has already received their check, and that many projects have already been completed. He noted that Restoration 44 will use the grant to improve the outside of their building. Similarly, Italiano’s will use the money outdoors as well, to add sidewalk planters on the south side of the restaurant. At the south end of town, Mama Light’s Eats has added large awning signage. 5 X 5 Productions will put the award toward marketing, and Dr. Joseph Pawlick, DDS, said he just wants to get a sign to let everyone know where he is.
Jim Mocny will remove the plywood from the transoms on his Main Street building, while Tiffany’s on Main has updated her landscaping. The Village Tavern will replace their overhead sign. The Mantua Granary building has already put their funds to work by installing lighting on the pillars on the outside porch. Bibury & Company added additional store front planters to differentiate their shop from others on the block, while Advanced Rehabilitation Health Specialists will add a new sign to create visibility at the corner of Mill Street and State Route 44. Frost Glass will apply their $400 grant toward the purchase of a grommet machine, which will enable the graphics and vehicle wrap company to be able to create signs for their customers.
The Mantua Small Business Grants program, established in 2016 as Small Business Entrepreneurship, was originally funded by donations from the Frost Glass Arts and Ales sales. Inactive over the last two years, the program was revised in 2020 to increase the awards while honoring the original goal—to better the economic atmosphere of the Village.
“The DMRC is a phenomenal organization, and a great way to contribute to the community,” Bixler shared. The DMRC has been supporting Mantua since 2007, with the mission to promote and revitalize the Village of Mantua to become a village where people want to live and visit. They hope to achieve this by engaging citizens, civic organizations, businesses and property owners to implement plans that engage the community, celebrate its history and enhance the future.
The DMRC has been working to promote and uplift the Village since 2007. For more information or to find out how you can help, visit revitalizemantua.org or visit the DMRC page on Facebook.
Photos provided by DMRC.
