Citizens Bank Foundation provides $35,000
grant for neighborhood revitalization in partnership with the Main Street
Initiative of Laconia
Growing
Communities initiative to stimulate economic development in downtown Laconia
MANCHESTER, N.H. – The Citizens
Bank Foundation today unveiled the details of its partnership with the Main Street Initiative of Laconia (MSI)
as part of its Growing Communities initiative announced in September. Citizens awarded
$70,000 in grants to neighborhood revitalization efforts in Nashua and Laconia,
providing $35,000 for MSI to establish a façade-improvement program in downtown
Laconia.
“Citizens’
Growing Communities initiative was established to help support and promote
neighborhood-based programs that have a significant impact on communities
across New Hampshire,” said Kathleen Reardon, SVP and Director of Public
Affairs, Citizens Bank, New Hampshire. “Strengthening the health and economic
vitality of our local communities is a priority at Citizens. We believe our
grants will help enhance the character and overall well-being of these
neighborhoods, support small businesses and spur additional investments in
these communities.”
The
Main Street Initiative of Laconia will provide matching grants of up to $5,000
to property and business owners inside the Beacon Street loop in the central
downtown business district. The initiative will encourage businesses to make investments
that beautify the downtown area, with the ultimate goal of decreasing vacancy
rates and increasing consumer traffic.
“We
are focused on revitalizing downtown Laconia by building community and
encouraging investment in the area,” said John Moriarty, President of the Main
Street Initiative of Laconia. “The façade improvement program will help local property
and business owners grow their businesses and will contribute to the strength
of the downtown.”
Belknap
Economic Development Council will provide additional resources and technical
assistance to help business owners strengthen their operations. Belknap EDC offers
a loan fund for Main Street businesses across Belknap County that can be used
to meet matching requirements. In addition, free business advisor services are
available at Belknap EDC’s office to assist in project planning.
Successful
applicants must demonstrate that the façade-improvement
project will enhance the appearance of the community, foster business growth
and leverage additional resources. Application packets are available online at www.laconiamainstreet.org, or at the Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce Office on South
Main Street. Completed applications are due by 4 p.m. on Friday, February
14, 2014.
Growing Communities is part of Citizens Helping Citizens
Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program to contribute to the economic
vitality of its communities. The Growing
Communities initiative is designed to promote and make investments in
neighborhood revitalization based on the existing assets of a community. Since 2012
Citizens has awarded $155,000 to neighborhood projects in Berlin, Manchester,
Nashua and Laconia.
About
Citizens Helping Citizens
Grounded
in the belief that a good bank gives back to its community and to the people
who live there, Citizens Helping Citizens is a program embracing the community
goals of RBS Citizens Financial Group, Inc. – the commercial bank holding
company serving consumer and small business customers as Citizens Bank and Charter One and commercial banking customers as RBS
Citizens. The Citizens Helping Citizens program is composed of five key
initiatives supported directly by RBSCFG and its nonprofit charitable
foundations, the Citizens Charitable Foundation, the Citizens Bank Foundation
and the Charter One Foundation: Citizens Helping Citizens Fight Hunger,
Citizens Helping Citizens Provide Shelter, Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen
Communities (economic development), Citizens Helping Citizens Teach Money
Management (financial education) and Citizens Helping Citizens Give
(volunteerism and colleague charitable donations). Across all of these
initiatives, Citizens Helping Citizens strives to enhance quality of life and
economic vitality in local communities.
You can access the grant application here
.