21 Downtown Du Quoin Projects
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Du Quoin City Council Monday night voted to double the size of a very popular downtown revitalization grant program that matches private investing with individual city-sponsored grants of up to $5,000.
Twenty-one renovation projects in downtown Du Quoin now valued at upwards of $262,243 were approved by the council.
Applications have to be filed by April 30th and the work has to be completed by the end of the year..
The largest of the proposals is a planned $62,000 renovation to Kalin's Restaurant that would include new windows, stairs, tuck pointing and a new grease trap system.
Others include a planned $17,000 makeover of the exterior of Marks' Bakery that would include a new awning, new siding and paving of the parking lot at the intersection of South Washington and East Main Street.
The law offices of Reed, Heller, Mansfield and Gross plan to spend upwards of $20,000 on a new awning, new facade, paint and hardware.
Regardless of the size of the renovations, each downtown business can receive no more than $5,000 under the program.
A sampling of the proposals submitted to the city follows:
Paradise Pools--Repair of siding, trim, repair entrance, new soffits and painting.
Shamrock Real Estate--Restoration of the storefront including a new awning.
Old library building--Repair damaged fascia and paint.
Dr. Robert Eaton Chiropractic--New awning, paint, tuckpointing and lighting.
Cricket Press--Awning and a new sign.
Main Street T's--Doors, awning, lighting, windows and signage.
Back to Your Roots Hairstyling--New awning, windows, paint and equipment.
Riggio's Shoebox--Window restoration, support posts and stucco work.
Ye Old Country Shoppe--New awning, windows, carpeting and equipment.
Faith Photography (two buildings)--Door, staircase, facade and general repairs. Awning and facade work on the second building.
Mathis Heating & AC--windows and awning.
Toler's Do-It-Best--Window upgrades and facade repair.
Moore Scrapbooking--staircase and windows.
Perry Werner Investments--Window and trim work.
Two Raggedy Sisters--Windows, new awning, facade upgrades and painting.
St. Nicholas Hotel--facade restoration.
Linzee Insurance Agency--Drivit™ exterior facade installation and signage.
The nearly $100,000 in grants will come from Du Quoin economic development funds funneled through the Coal Belt Champion Communities program.
Du Quoin the vote, commissioner Rex Duncan commented, "I cannot wait to come back this meeting a year from now to see the changes in downtown Du Quoin. I am very excited."