Winsted, CT - On January 14th, the Town of Winchester announced that it would invest $150,000 into Facade Improvements around town and $100,000 into new business start-ups through competitive forgivable loan application processes. In the months thereafter, the Town invested an additional $100,000 into the Facade Improvement Program, making the total amount awardable under that program $250,000. The initial $150,000 in Facade Improvement funds are made available from the Building Healthier Communities Grant from Hartford Healthcare/Charlotte Hungerford. The remaining monies were all provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. The Town is pleased today to announce that Round 2 awards have been given as a part of each of these programs. These are the final awards that will be given out as a part of the two programs until such a time as more funding is provided to the programs. The awardees for Round 2 are as follows:
Business Start-Up Program:
● Home & Cake, a bakery, has been awarded $10,000 to open a shop in Winsted. The application was made by Beata Vrancic, a resident of Winsted. The owner expects as many as 3+ jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
● An Axe Throwing Business will provide residents with an amazingly fun indoor recreational opportunity. This proposed business has been awarded $10,000 to open in Winsted. The owner expects as many as 8 jobs to be created as a result of this business opening.
● Earthbound Yogi, a yoga studio, relocated to Winsted with the help of a $10,000 award. Wendy Scanlon, a Colebrook resident. The owner expects a new job will be created as a result of this business opening.
● Curious Cat Bookshop will open in Winsted with the help of a $10,000 award. The owner expects as many as 3 jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
● Center for Dance Arts II, a dance studio in town, has been awarded a smaller $5,000 award to expand their footprint in town and move their operation to a larger, more visible location in Winsted.
● Mad River Music, a music store in town, has been awarded a smaller $5,000 award to expand their footprint and their offering of lessons to include ensemble lessons.
Total Round 2 Allocation: $50,000 Total Projected Jobs Created: 15
Facade Improvement Program:
● Noujaim’s Bistro has been awarded $20,000 for the purpose of upgrading windows for energy efficiency, as well as modifying the entrance for handicap access, creating a vestibule, widening the door, and adding air conditioning to accommodate patron comfort.
● JB Appliance has been awarded $10,000 for the purpose of improving the visible front of the
building as it faces Main Street.
● 492 Main Street (the site of Keefe Land Surveying) has been awarded $10,000 for the purpose of improving the visible front of the building as it faces Main Street.
● Laurel City Playhouse has been awarded $10,000 for the purpose of improving the siding on the building at 15 Case Avenue.
● Riiska CPA LLC at 16 Union Street has been awarded $10,000 for the purpose of improving the visible front of the building.
● 372 Main Street (the site of the former IGA supermarket) has been awarded $9,000 for the purpose of improving the visible front of the building as it faces Main Street.
● Little Red Barn Brewery has been awarded $9,000 for the purpose of improving seating options at the brewery and installing security cameras.
● American Mural Project has been awarded $7,500 for the installation of a new official public entry door at AMP’s gallery building.
● ABC Pizza has been awarded $5,000 for the replacement of their awning and other front-facing facade improvements.
● Ocean Garden has been awarded $5,000 for the replacement of their awning and other front-facing facade improvements.
● Flashback Welding has received a $5,000 award to replace the front window, door, and overhang, as well as to replace the sign out front and landscape.
● The Winsted VFW has received a $5,000 award to improve signage to promote veterans services provided by their post.
● Rowley Grill has been awarded $4,500 for improvements to their exterior and parking lot.
Total Round 2 Allocation: $110,000
Total Round 2 Applicant Match: ~$410,590
Total Round 2 Investments in Winsted Facilities: $$520,590
Grand Total (Round 1 + Round 2) Allocation: $250,000
Grand Total (Round 1 + Round 2) Applicant Match: ~$1,557,838
Grand Total (Round 1 + Round 2) Investments in Winsted Facilities: $1,807,838
Grand Total (Round 1 + Round 2) Applicant Match: ~$1,557,838
Grand Total (Round 1 + Round 2) Investments in Winsted Facilities: $1,807,838
For a full list of Round 1 awardees, please see the Town’s website at townofwinchester.org/2022InvestmentPrograms.
“Winsted’s Main Street and surrounding downtown area has tremendous forward momentum right now” says Josh Kelly, Winchester’s Town Manager. “With our new business and marketing investments, we encourage our current residents and businesses to get excited about Winsted’s redevelopment, and we warmly invite any and every prospective business owner to come be an active part of Winsted’s active downtown renaissance.”
All awards are secured with a Promissory Note, and all award recipients are required to meet very stringent guidelines in order to have their loans forgiven. Loans that are not forgiven are due back to the Town 395 days (a year and a month) after the Promissory Note is signed.
To read more about the Business Start-Up and Facade Improvement Forgivable Loan Programs, please go to: https://www.townofwinchester.org/2022InvestmentPrograms. To learn more about the submitted applications or to obtain contact information for the awardees, please email Town Manager Josh Kelly at townmanager@townofwinchester.org.