FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 21, 2011
Contact: Josh Rogers Tel. 478/742-5084 E-mail: jrogers@historicmacon.org
LOW-INTEREST LOANS AVAILABLE FOR DOWNTOWN PROPERTIES (Macon, GA) Thanks to Historic Macon Foundation, some of downtown Macon’s facades are about to get a facelift. Historic Macon Foundation announced today that its popular façade loan program will expand into downtown Macon. The 1772 Foundation has made $30,000 to Historic Macon Foundation to launch the program. This new grant marks the Foundation’s first gift in Macon. All $30,000 will be lent to eligible property owners downtown to improve the appearance of their buildings. Program details and application instructions can be found online at www.historicmacon.org/loans. For the past year, Historic Macon Foundation has made façade loans in the College Hill district, enabled by a grant from the Knight Neighborhood Challenge at the Community Foundation of Central Georgia and funded by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. This new grant expands the program to the Central Business District downtown. Property owners can undertake projects such as roof replacement, exterior paint, window repair, landscaping, façade restoration, irrigation, even decorative features like fountains. Almost any work that improves the exterior appearance is eligible for the program. Loans are made in $5,000 or $10,000 increments and require the property owners to contribute at least 20% of their own funds to the project. The loans carry a 2% interest rate and are repaid over five year terms. A $100 application fee is required ($50 for members of Historic Macon Foundation). “What we have found is that it is a lot easier to give property owners the tools they need to maintain their buildings rather than letting them slip into disrepair,” said Josh Rogers, Executive Director of Historic Macon Foundation, “This program is a new tool that gives property owners a great incentive to improve the appearance of their building.” Property owners may also be eligible for other incentives such as property tax freezes or state income tax credits based on the work that they complete. “Thanks to recent grants from the Knight Neighborhood Challenge and The 1772 Foundation, funds are available for loans in both College Hill and Downtown Macon,” said Façade Loan Committee Chair Felicia Parker, “These loans are sure to be distributed quickly, so interested property owners should visit the Historic Macon Foundation website and apply immediately.” Applications are being accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Historic Macon Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advocates for Macon’s historic and architectural heritage and facilitates preservation efforts in the community, revitalizes Macon’s neighborhoods and interprets the Sidney Lanier Cottage. For more information, visit www.historicmacon.org or call 478.742.5084.
Attachment 1: Eligible area (also available at: http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=203797171106736058455.00049cbcf39fac0e74ad7&z=16)
Attachment 1: Example of completed project- 535 College St. before and after College Hill Façade Loan (full resolution images available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40722207@N03/sets/72157623045158452/)
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