NH INSIDER

Façade Improvement Program increases appearance and desirability of Manchester businesses

Manchester, NH – The Manchester Economic Development Office (MEDO) has recently completed four Neighborhood Façade Improvement projects during the third quarter of 2009. The Façade Improvement Program provides grants to local businesses and property owners as part of a city-wide effort to enhance the visual appearance and desirability of Manchester businesses.  Recent local businesses benefiting from the Façade Improvement Program were Normand’s Hair Care, Ignite Restaurant, Manchester Music Hall, and XO on Elm.  The Façade Improvement Program represented a total city investment of $17,000 during the Third Quarter, while business owners contributed $44,598.

Manchester business owners who have taken advantage of the Façade Improvement Program have expressed their appreciation to the city for supporting their business especially during these tough economic times.  They realize the wonderful opportunity these funds provide them to invest in other areas of their business, such as hiring new employees.  Neville Pereira, owner of Ignite Restaurant on Hanover Street, a new restaurant with 25 full-time employees was able to take the money he saved on exterior work to improve the interior design and purchase equipment. “The (façade) program was phenomenal, there are a lot of costs associated with opening a new business and this gave us the opportunity to invest in other areas of the restaurant to help attract customers”.  Joe Lacerda, owner of the Music Mill which recently moved from the Millyard to Elm Street, stated he used the façade grant to construct an awning which helps draw more attention to his business and also purchase tinted glass which will help protect his equipment and merchandise.  Joe went on to add, “The money helped my business create a better exterior and get more people in the door, which is what it’s all about”.   

 “The value of the Façade Improvement Program is that it allows the city to support a wide variety of businesses to make improvements that create jobs while enhancing the aesthetic appeal of downtown Manchester and the surrounding areas” said Jay Minkarah, director of economic development for the City of Manchester.  Nine additional Façade Improvement projects are currently underway including improvements for Karma Lounge on Elm Street and Alley Cat Pizza. 

The Façade Improvement Program is funded by a Community Development Block Grant provided by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  Grants are made available to property owners and small businesses with less than 25 employees located in downtown Manchester and other designated areas for visible exterior improvements and signage.  Grants are awarded on a one to one matching basis in amounts up to $5,000 per building or $3,500 per retail space.

For more information about the Neighborhood Façade Improvement Program, visit MEDO online at www.YourManchesterNH.com or call 603-624-6505.

 

 

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"Sometimes, the truth hurts. Ron Sims may not like it, but it is

a matter of public record that his office concealed information

that was politically damaging. And that is not the sort of record

that ought to be brought to Washington."-ALG President Bill Wilson.

 

Sims HUD Nomination in Deepening Trouble as ALG Calls for Senate Rejection

 

April 30th, Fairfax, VA-Americans for Limited Government President Bill Wilson called upon the Senate to reject the nomination of Ron Sims to deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development as "an irresponsible choice by Barack Obama of a man who ought to be sent back to Seattle to ruminate in his field of schemes."

 

ALG News has learned that at least one Senator is considering placing a hold on Sims' nomination for additional questioning over Sims' role in long-standing stadium controversy. And now more are raising questions over the controversial nomination's qualifications.

 

"As King County Executive, Ron Sims' administration first concealed information from King County voters to get Qwest Field built via a 1997 referendum," said Wilson.

 

"And then, Sims' office concealed the same information for another four years from Armen Yousoufian, who prior to the vote requested studies be made public that were damaging to the political case made by Sims to the county legislature and residents who voted to build the stadium," Wilson added.

 

"And then, only because of a court order did his office 'find' the documents. Barack Obama promised the most open, transparent administration ever. And yet Obama's nominee Sims acted so arrogantly that it took a court to force him to disclose basic information," Wilson noted.

 

In a recent video interview with the Washington News Observer, when asked if he concealed anything and was fined $120,000, Sims denied any wrongdoing. "I didn't conceal anything... I was not fined $120,000."

 

"As a matter of fact, it's interesting because there is nothing in the court record at all involving me personally. I never was involved in that at all. There's nothing-nothing regarding my conduct. I didn't conceal a thing. I did order the release of documents after they were discovered, but I never concealed anything," Sims added.

 

The trial court that originally heard the case ruled King County could have complied with Yousoufian's request within five business days following Yousoufian's initial request. Instead it took more than four years and a handful of lawsuits.

 

Contradicting Sims' denial that "there is nothing in the court record" involving him, "The office of Ron Sims, King County Executive" was listed as the respondent in the case Yousoufian v. Sims, as reported by the Washington Examiner.

 

"To this day, Sims cannot come to grips with the fact that the Washington State Supreme Court ruled that his office 'repeatedly deceived and misinformed Yousoufian,'" said Wilson.

 

According to the majority opinion in the case, "The unchallenged findings of fact demonstrate King County repeatedly deceived and misinformed Yousoufian for years. King County told Yousoufian it produced all the requested documents, when in fact it had not. King County told Yousoufian the information was located elsewhere, when in fact it was not. After years of delay, mispresentation, and ineptitude on the part of King County, Yousoufian filed suit; nevertheless, it would still take another year for King County to completely and accurately respond to Yousoufian's original request, well past the purpose of his request, the referendum on public financing of a sports stadium."

 

"Sometimes, the truth hurts," said Wilson.

 

"Ron Sims may not like it, but it is a matter of public record that his office concealed information that was politically damaging. And that is not the sort of record that ought to be brought to Washington," Wilson concluded.