HAWLEY, Pa. — Driving on Route 6 through Pike and Wayne counties, you'll find lots of small businesses in your travels.
Karen Wezowicz has owned Friendly Treasures in Hawley for seven years. She says as a business owner, there are several upgrades she'd like to make to the outside of her store.
"I'd love to get a new sign outside; I'd love to fix the place, refresh the outside, make it look nice for when visitors come in," said Wezowicz.
There's even a space left from the former store just waiting to be filled with a new sign, but those upgrades aren't always in the budget.
The PA Route 6 Alliance is helping businesses in Wayne and Pike counties fund those projects with its façade program.
"We know that when you drive past a building you look at the signage and sometimes that signage will say I don't really want to go in there, or let me check it out," said Abbie Pritchard, façade coordinator.
The PA Route 6 Alliance has 100 thousand dollars from the state to divvy up.
Business owners who apply can use the funding for things like paint, awnings, windows, or other projects to freshen up a storefront without having to pay for the whole cost. The matching grant program has a maximum award of $5,000.
"So this grant project will provide half of the money. So if their project is $10,000 maybe they cant afford the whole $10,000 we will pay half," explained Pritchard.
Debbie Gillette is the Executive Director of The Chamber of The Northern Poconos. She tells Newswatch 16 that the chamber plans to apply to get new signs for the visitors centers in Hawley and Honesdale. She says a little sprucing up can go a long way.
"Tourism is our main industry. So when people are driving through our downtowns and on Route 6 in Wayne and Pike counties. it's all about the first impression so having some spruced up storefronts does draw the attention of people driving through," said Gillette.
It's expected more than 20 businesses within the two counties could benefit, and those dollars will have an even bigger impact.
"Support local sign companies, support a contractor to help do some of your projects. For every person we employ in Wayne and Pike counties, the dollars, about 90% will stay here in the community and that's really important," said Gillette.
The PA Route 6 Alliance will host information sessions for business owners who would like more information. You can find those details here.