Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
A brighter, more welcoming appearance on the corner of Main Street and 12th Avenue was the payoff for the Sweet Home Economic Development Group, which celebrated the completion of its project at Sunshine Espresso on Aug. 30.
As part of the project, SHEDG placed furniture and trash cans on the Sunshine Espresso property to create a park-like area on the corner.
The project cost about $2,500 for the equipment, said Beth Lambert, chairwoman of the SHEDG Revitalization Committee. Sunshine Espresso will purchase the equipment from SHEDG over the next two years under a contract.
The Revitalization Committee proposed the project to the SHEDG Board of Directors and received approval last year.
Sunshine is owned by Shannon and Dennis Thayer.
Since a building on the property, containing a barber shop and photography studio, burned, the Thayers have repaved and built and painted new storage structures. She plans to repaint the Sunshine Espresso building to match.
“They’ve done a great job,” Lambert said of Sunshine Espresso. “We were going to do all the cement work, but they took the initiative.”
This project is one of several that SHEDG is celebrating. Coming up, SHEDG will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the sprinkler system it installed in partnership with School District 55 and for the Shea Point restrooms in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Sweet Home.
The Revitalization Committee’s biggest project this year was $25,000 to finish the Main Street median strip project between 15th and 18th avenues.
The committee also purchased banners for Main Street and has been working with East Linn Museum.
Right now, the Revitalization Committee is offering up to $500 for facade improvements for up to 10 businesses this year.
The committee has approved a bench and neon lighting for the Rio Theater; and paint for Sunshine Espresso, Seamingly Creative and Jack Pedersen’s Chiropractic.
The money is in the form of a grant, Lambert said. The only condition is that the facade improvement must be approved by the committee.
We’re hoping that people take advantage of it,” Lambert said. “We’re telling everybody about it.”
The Revitalization Committee plans to budget another $5,000 for the program next year, Lambert said.
For an application, contact Lambert at 367-4353 or Karen Owen at 367-6185.