Two of six requests for commercial building and property improvement grants in Washington are now off the table.
The Washington City Council on Monday rejected Cherry Tree Plaza's $45,400 grant request for several reasons, including the fact that the shopping center received a $50,000 grant last year.
Additionally, a request from Kep's Sports Bar & Grill for around $34,000 was denied because the building is for sale.
Several council members expressed concerns about the three-year-old grant program, saying it needs to be examined and perhaps reworked.
"There a lot of angst about this program because it's so much a grey area," said Alderperson Brandon Moss.
"There's no doubt the grants help us maintain a healthy and strong small business community and avoid blighted real estate. Those are very valuable to the city at large.
"But some residents may have an issue with the philosophy of using taxpayer money to help private businesses. I have to agree with that."
The 2026-27 city budget includes $250,000 in the general fund for the grant program.
Based on a scoring system, a business is eligible to receive a maximum 50% of a project's costs, up to $50,000.
The grant requires that a business remain at the location for two years after the grant project is completed.
If the business is sold or the property is transformed to be used for something else during the two years, the grant recipient must repay some or all of the grant money.
Besides noting that Cherry Tree was seeking its second grant in two years, and "not a small grant," Moss said, "the shopping center is owned by an out-of-town entity that exists solely for a return on its real estate investment."
Cherry Tree's significant occupancy also drew Moss' attention.
"This grant shouldn't be used for a repetitive maintenance fund, especially for a [shopping] center that, while 'thriving' may not be the right word, seems to be healthy at least," he said.
Cherry Tree, located at the intersection of Washington Road and North Cummings Lane, requested a grant this year for a project that will expand the storefront of the largest current vacant space, adjacent to the Get Yourself Motivated gym, by about 25 feet.
Kep's project was replacing doors and sealcoating and striping the parking lot of the business at 313 Muller Road.
The rejection vote on the Kep's and Cherry Tree grant requests was 4-2. Bobby Martin III and Todd Sluder cast the "yes" votes in each case. Michael Ernst and Mike McIntyre did not attend the meeting.
Washington Plaza, Myers Tinting, Associated Veterinary Clinic and BLC Properties were approved for grants.
The only unanimous 6-0 votes among the four were for Washington Plaza and Myers Tinting. The other votes were 5-1, with John Blundy opposing.
A project to sealcoat and stripe the northern half of the Washington Plaza parking lot will benefit from a $50,000 grant.
Blundy said he doesn't normally vote for a grant for a parking lot project.
But he noted the one for Washington Plaza, located on Washington Road, is part of a larger city and shopping owner effort to improve the iconic but struggling plaza.
A more than $2,500 grant was approved for Myers Tinting, 300 Muller Road.
The project there is to replace an overhead door with an insulated door that has two rows of windows that allow needed natural light into a bay, and replace the entrance door with a commercial full-glass entry door.
Alderperson Jamie Smith said she had concerns with the grant for Myers Tinting because it was requested by the building tenant and not the owner, but she still voted "yes."
Associated Veterinary Clinic, 912 Walnut Street, received a nearly $9,000 grant for a project to tuckpoint deteriorated masonry on the northeast, west and south sides of the building and paint the surfaces after the repairs are completed.
"I'm glad to see a business on the east end of the city apply for a grant and receive it," Smith said.
BLC Properties, which owns rental properties at 290 and 304 Muller Road, received a nearly $5,000 grant for a project to paint the exterior of the building.
