Dozens of small businesses awarded funding to refresh old storefronts

August 18, 2026 - 22:50

Ron Fuchs can see Frick Park Market from his front porch. The 90-year-old lifelong Point Breeze native makes his rounds at the market every day, often opting for a coffee and a chat with the owner. But lately, he has noticed the paint peeling and the sign looking tired. That is about to change.

Dozens of small businesses across the region have been awarded new funding aimed at refreshing old storefronts. The program, run through a local development authority, gives grants of up to ten thousand dollars to help owners fix facades, replace windows, update signage, and improve accessibility. The goal is not just cosmetic. Officials say the money helps keep neighborhood commercial corridors alive and competitive against big box stores and online shopping.

For Frick Park Market, the grant means a new coat of paint, a repaired awning, and a brighter entrance. The owner says the work will start next month and should not interrupt daily operations. Fuchs, for his part, is glad to see the place get some attention. He remembers when the market had a butcher counter and a soda fountain. He just wants to see it stick around for another generation. The funding round covers more than forty businesses in total, with priority given to those in lower income areas and to owners who have been in operation for at least five years. A second round of applications is expected to open later this year.