Luverne Counseling’s façade improvement is a perfect example of the how the program works, according LEDA director Holly Sammons.
She updated the Luverne Economic Development Authority Monday on the recent Main Street project and on the city’s façade improvement program to date.
In 2016 and 2017 Sammons worked with the business to create a first design proposal and worked through color revisions and options to create a design plan.
“A vision, a budget and a goal gave them the tools they needed to plan for the project for someday in the future,” Sammons said in her report.
In 2019 she said they again revisited the colors to find the right theme for the building.
Project developers had hoped for a spring 2020 project, but COVID delayed those plans, Sammons said. “Everyone in the business community was left wondering what this meant for their business operations,” she said of the pandemic.
By fall Luverne Counseling owners were able to get loans and grant approval and start construction. They worked on the project through the winter and finished last week with the awnings and lights.
“The most important part of a successful project is the planning and preparation, and they executed their project to perfection,” Sammons said.
Luverne Counseling, owned and directed by clinical counselor Erica Hough, opened six years ago in the former Myhre Studio building on West Main Street.
It provides psychotherapy and a wide range of counseling services, and employs several counselors and therapists in various lines of specialty.
On the Luverne Counseling Facebook page, a Feb. 24 post announced the project completion.
“Thanks, Dave Nessink and crew at Superior Caulking. Thank you, Holly Sammons from city of Luverne, for helping us through the process,” it said.
“And a huge thank you, Jackie Pizel, our assistant office manager, for coordinating so much of this. We love it.”
The facade improvements cost roughly $76,800 and Luverne Counseling received the maximum grant and loan allowed through the program — a $21,000 grant and a $21,000 loan. The business invested $29,800 of its own equity.
The loan, at 2-percent interest, will be repaid over a period of seven years.
To date, Sammons said the Historic Façade Improvement Program has supported 23 façade projects between 2015-2021.
The LEDA has loaned out $158,000 dollars and granted $321,000 dollars during the course of the program.
The private sector has invested over $531,000 in equity into the projects, totaling over $1 million of investment into our Main Street.
Background
The Historic Façade Improvement Program was developed in 2014 to support the revitalization of Main Street and downtown Luverne while restoring buildings as closely as possible to their historic appearance from 1878-1948.
The city covers architectural costs for a professional design proposal to ensure projects align with the goal of a historic Main Street.
Funding provided through the program can be used for materials, construction, awnings, signage and lighting.
One-third of qualifying projects is paid by a grant, one-third by a low-interest loan, and one-third is owner equity.