Frankfort Main Street Executive Director Kim Stevens will ask the Frankfort Redevelopment Commission today (Thursday) to approve two new grant programs that could offer up to 25,000 dollars in assistance to downtown businesses beginning April 1. The Frankfort Redevelopment Commission (RDC) typically meets in the City Council Chambers at 5:30 p.m. in Old Stoney on the last Thursday of every month.
New Grant Programs Headed to Redevelopment Commission
Stevens said she is scheduled to appear before the Redevelopment Commission on Thursday, March 26, to seek final approval for two grants aimed at supporting small businesses in the downtown historic district. One program, called “Restore, Revitalize and Renew,” would provide up to 5,000 dollars for new, existing or expanding businesses located in the downtown historic district. The second, the “Spark New Business” grant, would offer up to 20,000 dollars for new businesses, with requirements designed to help owners plan for long-term success.
“With that I want to share that because some of these things over the last couple of years have become more and more of a challenge, Frankfort Main Street has worked with the Redevelopment Commission, and I’m happy to say that Thursday I will be going before them for final approval on two different grants that we want to offer,” Stevens said.
If approved tonight (Thursday), Stevens said both grants would be available as soon as April 1 for interested businesses.
Requirements Tied to Planning and Education
Stevens said the Restore, Revitalize and Renew grant would be open to qualifying businesses up to a maximum of 5,000 dollars, with flexibility for applicants who may not need the full amount. To qualify, businesses would sign a memorandum of understanding and be expected to have or develop a business plan and marketing plan, participate in Main Street mixers and local educational programs, and work with mentors identified through Frankfort Main Street and its partners.
“If you don’t have those plans available, we will work with you to make sure that you get those in place,” Stevens said, adding that Main Street can help connect business owners with mentors and resources, including assistance with social media content calendars. She emphasized that if a project requires more than 5,000 dollars, Main Street also intends to help businesses locate additional funding sources.
The Spark New Business grant would provide up to 20,000 dollars, but would require recipients to meet additional criteria, including a business plan, appropriate insurance and a surety bond on the grant amount. The bond would allow the Redevelopment Commission to recapture funds if a business closes shortly after receiving assistance, so the money can be reallocated to another applicant.
“We are asking for a surety bond for that 20,000 dollars,” Stevens said. “This is a way for us to be able…to secure that money so that we can pass that on to the next business who might be interested in that.”
Focus on Sustainability, Not Just Startups
Host Shan Sheridan, speaking in his role as Chamber leader, praised the Redevelopment Commission and Main Street for linking tax increment financing (TIF) dollars to hands-on support for local entrepreneurs. He noted that the same TIF fund, fed by companies such as Conagra, has previously helped finance projects like underground utilities, streetlights and Prairie Creek Park.
“You want the sizzle, you want the spark, you want the new business, you want the attraction,” Sheridan said. “But…we work probably more about anything in the chamber world [on] retention, keeping business sustainable, keeping them around.” He described the new grants as “bright lights of hope” for small businesses that may be trying to get through a difficult season or month.
Stevens, who is beginning her 24th year with Frankfort Main Street, said the concept for such support has been in the works for years. “This is something that we have been working on for a long time,” she said. “I think the first time I put an idea together like this was in 2016, and…we didn’t have all the pieces in place that we needed.”
Helping Businesses Adapt and Stand Out
Stevens said downtown’s business mix has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, and newer owners did not necessarily weather the shutdowns in the same way as earlier businesses. Still, she said Main Street continues to stress the importance of reinvention, social media, and regular engagement with customers.
“One thing that I try to remind our small businesses often is you’ve got to set yourself apart and give people a reason to want to come back and watch you or want to come back and see what you’ve got available,” Stevens said. She cited Delilah’s, a downtown retailer that uses humorous videos on social media, as an example of how small touches can keep a business “exciting” and top of mind for customers.
Stevens also described how Main Street worked with Karate USA owner Frank Harness to refresh marketing, highlight his credentials as a ninth-degree black belt, and introduce youth summer camps after the local YMCA facility closed. Since then, she said, enrollments are up, new incentive programs are in place, and Karate USA is preparing for a second year of summer camps.
Training and Resources Beyond the Grants
In addition to the proposed local grants, Stevens pointed to National Main Street’s new Small Business Hub and other state resources as tools for local owners. She said the hub offers free online coursework on topics such as setting up social media, writing a business plan, building a marketing strategy and basic financial steps such as obtaining a tax identification number.
“There are so many resources that sometimes you just don’t know where to start,” Stevens said. “That’s where we will be working with each individual business and saying, ‘Okay, we’ll do an evaluation. Here’s what we think that you need to do.’” She said decisions about which classes and supports are needed will be made by a team, not by Main Street alone, with the goal of “empower[ing] you with whatever it is that you need.”
Businesses seeking more information can contact Frankfort Main Street at its office in the Iron Block building, 62 North Main Street, by phone at 765-654-4081, or online at frankfortmainstreet.org.
