CHESTER, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Several businesses in Chester are getting thousands of dollars from a city initiative to help fix up their storefronts and boost the economy of the downtown area.
Chester's Facade Enhancement Initiative (FEI) aims to revitalize the city's central business district by enhancing the aesthetic of its commercial buildings.
Businesses along the 400 and 500 blocks of Avenue of the States had the opportunity to apply for the program. Each will receive state grants of up to $50,000 to transform their commercial properties' visual appeal and make the business corridor more inviting to locals and visitors.
"It's a $2 million program," said Chester Mayor Stefan Roots. "The money will go into architect, 3D renderings of what it will look like, and the contractor that will be doing the work."
Priority was given to minority- and women-owned businesses, reinforcing the city's commitment to equitable development. Applications closed last month and are currently being reviewed.
Many once-abandoned properties have already been rehabbed into art galleries, restaurants and clothing stores that Roots said are beautiful on the inside.
"The young artist community has taken the opportunity to reacquire a lot of the spaces that are right outside the front door of City Hall primarily into artists spaces," he said. "You open your doors and it will blow your mind what these men and women have done."
However, he said their exteriors leave a lot to be desired. That's where FEI comes in. Starting next year, storefronts will undergo reconstruction, including paint, lighting and signage upgrades, among other decorative elements.
"By investing in the aesthetic side of our community, we are not only elevating the visual landscape of our city but also cultivating a sense of community pride and attracting new businesses and visitors to Chester," the mayor said in a statement.
The project will also help stores replace windows, powerwash exteriors and remove security gates.
The city aims to complete to program by the end of 2026.
"The desire has always been to bring back downtown," Roots added. The initiative will "make the outsides look nice and have a consistent look and feel that's modern, that's attractive."
