The first store to complete work on their new façade under the Union City Urban Enterprise Zone’s Façade Improvement Program held a grand reopening ceremony Tuesday to show off the new look.
K and S Curtains, located at the corner of 40th Street and Bergenline Avenue, has been in business in Union City for more than 20 years.
The Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) is a statewide initiative to boost the small business districts in urban areas. Members of the UEZ are able to charge only 3 percent sales tax, which goes directly to a municipal UEZ fund, which is used to better the business district.
The façade improvement program, introduced earlier this year, provides UEZ-member businesses with a grant to improve the facades of their business.
According to Peter DeGast, the president of the UEZ Development Corporation and franchise owner of the International House of Pancakes on 32nd Street in Union City, the UEZ provides each business with up to $8,000 for the improvements.
UEZ Coordinator Amada Avila explained that each business is given a 3 to 1 matching grant. Avila explained that if the UEZ gives a business three dollars, the business has to contribute one dollar.
However, according to Avila, K and S Curtains was given close to $14,000 for their façade because they not only fixed their façade but they also expanded to the store next to them.
"We took into consideration that this was two stores," said Avila.
The program also contains guidelines for new facades, encouraging uniformity while allowing individual business owners to decide exactly how they want their store to look.
"We are looking to create uniformity within the business districts," said UEZ Coordinator Amada Avila. "We are trying to get away from the shocking green awnings next to a pink awning and the next one may be yellow. That just makes the whole area look better."
When façade program began earlier this year, it was a joint effort with the UEZ and the Community Development Agency. Now all of the funding for the program will come strictly from the UEZ.
With this change in funding, Avila said, only UEZ member businesses can benefit from the program.
The Urban Enterprise Zone will be mailing a letter to all business explaining that the façade program is now only eligible for those businesses that are members of the UEZ. If a non-member business wants to take advantage that the program, the business can fill out an application for the UEZ program.
"When first started the program we wanted to do entire blocks at once," said DeGast pointing to the 41st Street and 26th Street projects as examples.
Façade Improvement Program projects are currently under construction along both sides of Bergenline Avenue from 41st to 40th streets and along Bergenline Avenue from 26th to 27th streets.
"Little by little we are changing the face of our business districts," said Avila.