UPDATED: Economic Development Commission Looking to Revamp Restaurant Grants

UPDATED: July 17 6 p.m.

While the village's facade grant program has benefited several local businesses, response to the two-year-old Restaurant Grant Program isn't as enthusiastic. Economic development commission members recommended suspending the Restaurant Grant program earlier this month, and plan to confer with the village board on other possible incentive options for incoming businesses.

The village board will make a final determination whether to suspend the program.

“Technically it’s still out there, but we wanted to send a message that we thought it needed to be re-worked,” said economic development director Catherine Schuster.

The restaurant program contributed $20,000 to the opening of the John Dough Bakery. Most recently Blue 47 and Dublin Fire House applied for grants. The latter had been approved, but withdrew their application. Schuster said Blue 47 asked to be taken off this month’s meeting agenda, but plan to present a proposal at an upcoming meeting.  

May 3 meeting minutes indicate that after evaluating their promotion strategy for the program, Schuster reached out for feedback from the consulting firm that oversaw the View restaurant’s renovation, who felt the village's incentives weren’t enticing enough in the restaurant industry. Several other restaurants that established in the village in the last year—from sit-down space Tairyo to commuter-friendly Torch Cookery—established themselves without applying for the grant.

A subcommittee met on May 12 to discuss alternative incentive programs. Schuster said they did not come to any decisions, but “a couple focuses were put on the table.”

One such focus included a "Destination Grant," which would encompass restaurants as well as other potential projects the commission deems viable.

EDC members will examine the issue more closely at a future meeting before presenting a final recommendation to the village board.

Two new businesses will be joining downtown as well:

• Contempo Dance Academy will move into the former Triple Threat Dance Academy (4723 Main St.);
• An unnamed home improvement store is moving into 4750 Main St.