BY MIKE WARREN

EDITOR

MARSHFIELD — Three downtown Marshfield storefronts will get makeovers, thanks to additional funding from a popular city program.

Marshfield’s Economic Development Board on July 7 approved adding $30,000 to its 2022 Main Street Facade program. City Planner Steven Wiley told the EDB the additional funding means three projects which applied for funding back in April will get done, versus two partial projects because of a limited budget. “Right now, we’d be able to accommodate almost two, with the $60,000 that you originally approved back in March,” Wiley told board members. He also said the additional funding request is already essentially paid for, because of a higher-than-expected dividend from Marshfield Utilities, which covers the lion’s share of annual EDB activities. “The 2022 Marshfield Utilities dividend amount increased from a budgeted amount of approximately $236,000 to $282,505 dollars. So, that was an increase of approximately $46,000, which would more than cover this $30,000-dollar request.”

Board member Ken Bargender said the façade program is money well spent, and supported the additional funding. “These buildings look a heck of a lot more historical, and being on the Historic Preservation Commission here in the city, every time I see one of these buildings restored to its previous look, it really helps with promotion of our historical downtown district,” the former alderman said. “And, right now, the commission is looking…our direction is historical tourism. So, if we can make our downtown look more historic one building at a time, it’ll go along with our historic tourism campaign that we will probably be implementing in 2023.”   

Nearly half of the now-$90,000 facade program budget would be used to redo the property at 500 S. Central Avenue, which currently houses Burns Insurance. The EDB signed off on using $40,000 – the maximum amount allowed under program rules – toward $118,800 in planned improvements to the building, owned by Lazy Meadow Homes operated by Chris and Erin Howard. Wiley told the board the Howard’s plan to remove the false front that currently wraps around the front of the building, to expose and restore the original openings along the second floor.

Also getting funding is Off The Mat Yoga at 315 S. Central. The money – $19,800 – will be used for new siding, lighting and signage, plus brick cleaning. $14,000 is going to Good Day Sunshine Record Shop at 107 S. Central Ave. Owner Dani Faber has told the city the money would be used for improved windows and signage.