North Richland Hills offers grants to business to spruce up building exteriors

By CHRIS VAUGHN

cvaughn@star-telegram.com

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — About a year ago, Ash Azer bought a building on Davis Boulevard with intentions to fix it up for his Allstate Insurance business.

The building was years past its prime, the wood siding warped, the paint faded, the parking lot bumpy.

Azer started by building a monument sign and landscaping near the street. But he kept procrastinating on renovating the building because of the cost. He’s finally moving ahead, though, on a "total face-lift" because of a city revitalization program that will pay part of the cost.

"I found out about the free money," he said. "It’s awesome. I hope my neighbors will do it too."

Azer is one of a growing number of small-business owners who are learning about the Business Improvement and Growth program, overseen by the economic development office of North Richland Hills. The city, with 65,000 residents, is Tarrant County’s third–largest.

The program offers thousands of dollars in grants to small businesses in the older southern part of the city that would like to spruce up the exterior of their buildings, although the free money does come with some strings attached, including the requirement that pole signs be removed.

"The program has been very timely, given the recession," said Craig Hulse, the city’s economic development director. "It’s a way for a businesses to improve their looks and potentially gain more customers."

The program was drawn up for what officials call the city’s "mature corridors" of southern Boulevard 26, Davis Boulevard and Rufe Snow Drive, most of which have commercial properties that date back 30 years or more.

Many businesses along those stretches of road are locally owned and have neither the deep pockets nor design requirements of corporate chains.

The city will soon consider adding two streets, a section of Bedford-Euless Road north of Loop 820 and Glenview Drive west of Boulevard 26, based on interest from businesses in those areas.

"It’s basically the same market, and they’re in the same situation, so we’re getting a lot of inquiries from businesses there who want to participate," Hulse said.

Testimonial examples

Under the program, the city will provide up to $10,000 for facade improvements and up to $3,000 to build a monument sign. The city will also pay to remove a pole sign, provided it costs $2,000 or less.

The money comes from a development fund established with signing bonuses from energy companies that want to drill for natural gas on city-owned property.

Three businesses have used the grant program in the last year — two on Rufe Snow Drive and one on Davis Boulevard. Four others are in various stages of construction, and five have applied and are awaiting approval.

But word is spreading, and officials have handed out 15 applications in the last month.

"It’s been good for people to see examples on the street," Hulse said. "They tend to be testimonials."

It’s part of a significant public investment in the southern sector of the city that also includes two recently approved intersection overhauls and the planned burial of utilities.

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