Grant Program Provides Assistance for Historic Court Square District

The Downtown Development Authority of Blakely is pleased to offer the Historic Blakely Court Square Facade Grant Program as an incentive to encourage revitalization.

The purpose of the program is to simulate downtown revitalization, redevelopment, economic development and tourism in Blakely. Downtown is the historic core of the community and serves as the seat of business, government and service for Blakely and Early County.

With historic structures and architecture ranging from the 1860s through the 1950s, downtown is the heart of the community, and its small business-focus and historic buildings invite both resident and guest.

Projects should result in repairs and rehabilitation which are appropriate for the particular building, contribute to the success of its current business, and repair a building’s facade to positively contribute to the appearance and vitality of the Historic Blakely Court Square District.

Qualified projects may include: facade repairs and rehabilitation, restoration of architectural features, structural stabilization of facades, masonry cleaning (only by gentlest means possible), exterior repainting (painting of bare unpainted brick is not eligible), exterior walls/materials, awnings and canopies.

Guidelines and applications are available under the “Incentives” tab at www.downtownblakely.com or at the Alexander Building, which houses the Chamber and Development Authority offices, 214 Court Square. Please note: Applications must also be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission of Blakely through a Certificate of Appropriateness, which can be downloaded at www.downtownblakely.com/hpc. For more information, please contact Susanne Reynolds, Director for Economic Development, at 229-366-1952 or susanne@downtownblakely.com.