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. These funds are made available from the Building Healthier Communities Grant from Hartford Healthcare/Charlotte Hungerford and the American Rescue Plan Act respectively. Town Manager Josh Kelly has also expressed his desire to use some remaining American Rescue Plan Act dollars to expand the Facade Improvement Program to allow for more awards in Round 2. The Town is pleased today to announce that Round 1 awards have been given as a part of each of these programs. The awardees are as follows:
Business Start-Up Program:
Cura di se, a new nutrition club that will serve “the community in multiple ways from food service to personal health,” has been awarded $10,000. The application was made by Rebecca Corcoran, a resident of Winsted. The owner expects as many as 5 jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
Live.At Home, a new artisan market, will “provide a space for artisans to showcase their home decor and gift items for sale in a tastefully appointed space.” This proposed business has been awarded $10,000. The application was made by Jacqueline McNamara, the owner of another Winsted business, Live.Be You (located at 396 Main Street). Ms. McNamara has secured a lease for Live.At Home at 58 Main Street, Winsted. The owner expects as many as 2 jobs to be created as a result of this business opening.
The Greenhouse Bed & Breakfast, a new lodging business, will open at 21 Fairview Avenue in Winsted with the help of a $10,000 award. The application was made by Alla Kravchenko, a Winsted resident. The owner expects as many as 3 jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
Laurel City Expressive Performing, a new performing arts business, will open at 15 Case Avenue in Winsted with the help of a $10,000 award. The application was made by John Noone, a Winsted resident. The owner expects as many as 5 jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
Tipi, a new bar and restaurant, will open at 898 Main Street with the help of a $10,000 award. This application was made by Bernard & Jill Fourie, Winsted residents. The owners expect as many as 11 jobs will be created as a result of this business opening.
Total Round 1 Allocation: $50,000 Total Projected Jobs Created: 26
Facade Improvement Program:
● 35 Willow Street has been awarded $20,000 for the purpose of replacing “the existing window frames and glass” at the site. The owner of the property is Joseph J. Miller, a Winchester resident.- Mr. Miller expects that the total project cost to rehabilitate that building will total over $900,000.
● The Tributary Restaurant at 17 Rowley Street has been awarded $20,000 for the purpose of improving “vinyl siding and window awnings, patio awnings, and updates to outdoor lighting and signs.” The owner of the property is Voula Ignatiadis, a Winsted resident. Ms. Ignatiadis expects the total project cost to be $40,000.
● 58 Main Street has been awarded $10,000 for the purpose of complete renovations to the inside of the commercial space at that site. Live.At Home, a new business awarded a start-up loan, has secured a loan to move into this space once renovations are complete. The owner of the property is Impetus Properties, LLC. Impetus expects that the total project cost to be $35,000.
● Laurel Lanes, located at 266 Main Street, has been awarded $10,000 to fix and refinish all 12 bowling lanes, replace machines and equipment at the end of their useful life, make furniture upgrades, purchase more game stations such as pool tables, and more. The owner of the property is Tony Hang, a West Hartford resident. Mr. Hang expects the total cost of this project to be $91,997.90.
● R&B Sports World, located at 19 Rowley Street, has been awarded $10,000 to upgrade their space to house and run a new laser tag system. The owner of the property is Rachel Gagnon, a Winsted resident. Ms. Gagnon expects that the upgrades will cost at least $35,000.
● The Gilson Cafe & Cinema, located at 354 Main Street, has received a $10,000 award to install a sprinkler system that will allow the facility to continue expanding future entertainment possibilities. The property is owned by Alan Nero, a Winsted resident. Mr. Nero projects the total cost of the project will be $131,854.86.
● Whiting Mills, located at 100 Whiting Street, has received a $10,000 award to replace windows at their property. The property is owned in part by Alexandria Evans, a Norfolk resident. Mr. Evans projects the total project cost will total $29,854.51.
● Mario’s Tuscany Grill, located at 556 Main Street, has been awarded $10,000 for the replacement of siding on the building with stucco and for the replacement of the business’ awning and sign. The owner of the property is Gutic Hadisa, a Winsted resident. Mr. Hadisa projects the total cost of the project to be $49,500.
● McGranes on the Green, located at 37 Park Place, has been awarded $10,000 for the replacement of stucco siding, adding cover window trim and overhangs with aluminum trim. The owner is Timothy McGrane, a Winsted resident. Mr. McGrane expects the total project to cost $40,000.
● Beacon Prescriptions, located at 294 Main Street, has been awarded $8,000 for the replacement of awnings on the front and sides of the building. The property is owned by Lori Bittel, a New Hartford resident. Ms. Bittel expects the total project to cost $8,041.12.
● King, King, & Associates, located at 95 North Main Street, has been awarded $7,500 for the replacement of windows and a door at that address to make vacant space on the premises ready for use. The property is owned by Robert King, a New Hartford resident. Mr. King expects the total improvement cost to be $12,000.
● The Railway Cafe, located at 580 Main Street, has been awarded $7,500 for the creation of outdoor eating areas and a walk-up ice cream window. The business is owned by Carrie Stetson, a Winsted resident. Ms. Stetson expects the total cost of the project to be approximately $10,000.
● 88 Elm Street, home of Williams Chiropractic, has received a $7,000 award to replace damaged and worn out carpet throughout the main floor of the building. The property is owned by Matthew C. Williams, a New Hartford resident. Mr. Williams expects that the total project cost will be $14,000.
Total Round 1 Allocation: $140,000
Total Round 1 Applicant Match: ~$1,257,248
Total Round 1 Investments in Winsted Facilities: $1,397,248
“Winsted’s Main Street and surrounding downtown area has a lot of 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 up-and-coming 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.
The Town has received over $200,000 in other Facade Improvement Program applications already, and thus has closed that application process and will make Round 2 allocations out of the pool of applications that have already been submitted in May. The Business Start-Up program is still excitedly looking for new applicants and will give awards on a rolling basis. If you wish to open or expand a business today, please apply by visiting: https://www.townofwinchester.org/2022InvestmentPrograms!
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.