Ninth District Opportunity representatives accept a check from Cornelia DDA Manager Jessie Owensby (far right) to help offset the cost of the agency’s new sign. Pictured (l-r): Habersham County Program Assistant, Lesa Barrett; Director of Community Services, Brenda Dalin; Housing/Program Manager, Michael Fisher; and Habersham County Coordinator, Chrystal Coker. (photo/DDA)
Ninth District Opportunity (NDO) is accustomed to helping others, but the local nonprofit got some help of its own recently when it was awarded a Cornelia Main Street Façade Grant.
NDO received a check for $403.50 from the Cornelia Downtown Development Authority to help cover the cost of the sign at its new office on North Main Street in Cornelia.
Facade grants are available to downtown businesses and property owners. In order to qualify, the owners must get their project approved by the Cornelia Downtown Development board prior to any work being done. Once approved, the project must be completed within 120 days. Upon completion, the board reviews all receipts and final results before reimbursing costs through grant monies.
The Cornelia Main Street Façade Grant pays up to 50 percent of project costs with a maximum cap of $500.
Giving back
Ninth District Opportunity is a non-profit organization serving Northeast Georgia. Its mission is to help people reach the goal of self-sufficiency and lessen the causes of poverty. Housing and Program Manager Michael Fisher says, “We appreciate the partnership with Downtown Cornelia as we strive to reduce homelessness in the area.”
“Ninth District Opportunity has only been in Cornelia for a few months, but it has already made such a huge impact in our community,” says Community Development Manager Jessie Owensby. “The staff there is already heavily involved in different things within the community, and the Cornelia DDA is happy to be able to give back to a business that really focuses on giving back to Cornelia.”
Maintaining accreditation
Implementing a sign grant program helps Cornelia Main Street meet the annual standards of downtown revitalization efforts that are required to remain accredited as a Georgia and National Main Street program. Cornelia Downtown Development Authority is currently looking for private partnerships and local stakeholders to help continue these revitalization efforts.
For more information on how to apply for the sign grant, or if you are interested in being a benefactor to this program, contact Community Development Manager Jessie Owensby at [email protected] or call 706-778-8585, ext. 280.
