Duke Energy awards $240,000 to 10 Greater Cincinnati development projects

The Duke Energy Urban Revitalization Program recently awarded about $240,000 to 10 area development projects. The funds will be used for predevelopment work like site analysis and architectural renderings. This year, the majority of the grant money went to projects in Northern Kentucky.
 
Bellevue:
Kent Hardman, who is redeveloping the historic Marianne Theater, received $40,000 through the Catalytic Fund to help with an energy assessment for the Energy Project Assessment District. Through the program, developers receive funds from the city that are then used to help improve energy efficiency. The 7,500-square-foot commercial space will become a special events theater and restaurant that focuses on craft beer and wine.
 
College Hill:
A $14,000 grant was awarded to the College Hill Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation for renovations to the National City Bank in the neighborhood’s central business district. Plans for the building, which is across the street from a new apartment complex, include a restaurant or high-end retail store.
 
Covington:
A former Frisch’s at 801 Madison Ave. received $20,000 through the Catalytic Fund, which hopes to move a business into the high-traffic space. The grant will assist with architectural planning and conceptual design.
 
The Center for Great Neighborhoods was awarded $30,000 for its “homes for makers” projects near the Hellmann Creative Center. Three properties along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard will be restored and sold to small businesses whose owners would live/work on-site. The Center plans to renovate 12 homes like this in Covington.
 
Ludlow:
Through the Catalytic Fund, Second Sight Spirits received $20,000 to expand its offerings into next-door’s Wynners Cup Café. The café will become more of an event center and creative meeting space, with food and adult beverages from Second Sight. Owners Rick Couch and Carus Waggoner hope that the expansion will help them become part of the Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail.
 
Madisonville:
The Madisonville Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation received $5,500 for the renovation of the historic Metz building. Once completed, the building will house the neighborhood’s police substation and the MCURC. Both organizations need new spaces because of additional redevelopment nearby, and they hope to help spur additional development with the move.
 
Middletown:
Downtown Middletown, Inc., was awarded $20,000 for the renovation of a former JCPenney’s. The 38,000-square-foot building will become Torchlight Pass, a destination for dining, retail and family entertainment.
 
Newport:
A $25,000 grant was awarded to the rehabilitation of the Holzhauser Drug Store, through the Catalytic Fund. The building has been vacant at 10^th and Madison streets for years, and is now owned by Millennium Housing Corporation. Plans include creating a historically accurate façade, and adding retail or offices.
 
Silverton:
The Hamilton County Business Center will use its $20,000 grant for small business coaching. This is the fourth consecutive year that the business center has received a Duke Energy grant. The money will go to providing one-on-one mentoring and coaching to small businesses, as well as efforts to attract, retain and expand small businesses in Silverton.
 
Westwood:
The Westwood Community Urban Redevelopment Corporation received a $45,000 grant for the revitalization and redevelopment of a building in Westwood’s business district. The building is slated for the future home of the West Side Brewery.
 
Since its inception in 2011, the Urban Revitalization program has awarded a total of about $1.6 million in grant money to 48 area projects.