The Town of Cicero held a ribbon cutting to kick off the start of the Town’s Façade Improvement Project on Tuesday, Oct. 9. The Town received a Main Street Revitalization Program (MSRP) grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) for $403,000, along with a Historic Preservation Grant in the amount of $142,216 to complete a Façade Improvement project. This project includes 13 buildings along West Jackson Street from State Road 19 to Main Street.
In attendance for this ceremony was OCRA, town officials, business owners, the Town of Cicero’s Indiana Main Street organization Our Town Cicero and residents.
“This project demonstrates how key partnerships and continual collaborations can help come together to revitalize a downtown and enhance economic development,” said Jodi Golden, OCRA Executive Director. “I applaud the leadership team in the Town of Cicero for the dedication and commitment shown throughout this process and ensuring these improvements move forward.”
Town Council President Rusty Miller also cut the ribbon, adding, “This project has been a great partnership with the Town of Cicero, the State through their grant programs, Our Town Cicero, and the 13 building owners who committed matching funds for their projects. These improvements will help the community in its revitalization efforts of the downtown area and will continue the Town’s efforts in enhancing its quality of place and economic development within Cicero.”
Cicero’s grant administrator for this project is Tina Henderson with Mendenhall and Associates, the architect for the project is R & B Architects located in Indianapolis, and the project contractor is RenCon Services based in Pendleton. RenCon has set up a project headquarters located in the gravel lot at 150 W. Jackson St., which is where the former town offices were located. Details on the project, including updates, before and after photos, progress reports, etc., will be made through Cicero’s website beginning the week of Oct. 15.
The businesses will remain open during project construction, so please continue to enjoy the wonderful restaurants and shops located in downtown Cicero.
“A priority for us is to make sure that all businesses are able to remain open during construction,” said Lance Stephenson with RenCon Services. “A plan has been developed and we will work with the Town and the building owners to communicate progress and updates to the public during construction.”
The project is anticipated to begin this week and will end in May 2019.
For more information on the Town of Cicero and the Façade Improvement Project, visit ciceroin.org.
Buildings included in the project
- 1 W. Jackson St.
- 10 W. Jackson St.
- 30 W. Jackson St.
- 40 W. Jackson St.
- 47 W. Jackson St.
- 60 W. Jackson St.
- 64 W. Jackson St.
- 90 W. Jackson St.
- 99 W. Jackson St.
- 109 W. Jackson St.
- 110 W. Jackson St.
- 120 W. Jackson St.
- 220 W. Jackson St.