CREIGHTON, NE — Creighton’s Main Street is looking fresh after an influx of grant money helped add a modern touch to downtown businesses.
The Knox County town won a $350,000 Downtown Revitalization Grant in December 2016 designed to update the look of businesses. Economic Development Director Kylee Wilmes says the new-look Main Street will help businesses succeed.
“If you do have a thriving business, that does bring more people not only into town but potentially brings them here to live,” Wilmes said. “That’s kind of what we look for in small communities.”
The project has proven popular as 30 businesses applied for the first round of dollars. Among those businesses was home decor and gift shop A Special Place which is now sporting a new awning, freshly painted brick and will soon have new windows. Owner Naoma Borgmann says she thinks it will draw in customers.
“If somebody is just driving through, the signage and the way the storefronts look now, they might not just drive on through,” Borgmann said. “I believe this will make them stop and shop.”
Not only has the grant money helped spruce up downtown, it’s also helped build up the sense of community pride in Creighton.
“I think to see even just a new awning go up or a new sign go up, I think that makes Creighton feel good about themselves,” Wilmes said.
Wilmes says six businesses have already applied for the remaining $25,000 of grant money. She expects most projects to be completed by the end of the year.
