HCDRF - Main Street America

Historic Commercial District Revolving Fund

With support from The 1772 Foundation, Inc., we are dedicated to improving older and historic assets in downtowns and commercial districts.

Sustainable Downtown Investment

In 2016, The 1772 Foundation, Inc., supported our efforts to launch the first national revolving loan fund for façade improvements in Main Street communities. Revolving loan funds provide sustainable, long-term investments toward the visible and economic impact in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts.

Maine

In 2019, Main Street America (MSA) selected Maine Downtown Center (MDC) as the next state partner to participate in the Historic Commercial District Revolving Fund (HCDRF), made possible through the generous support from the 1772 Foundation, Inc.

With the Maine Downtown Center as our second state partner, the HCDRF will provide up to 15 small revolving loans to support highly visible improvements to buildings and storefronts in three Maine communities: Gardiner, Biddeford, and Skowhegan. Over the next three years, the Historic Commercial District Revolving fund will help Maine Downtown Center and their communities further their mission to “Catalyze. Strengthen. Guide.”

Building and business owners are eligible to apply. The deadline for application is January 22, 2020. Please see the loan application for details.

LOAN APPLICATION

Texas

In 2016, we launched the Main Street America Façade Improvement Pilot Program, with generous support from the The 1772 Foundation, Inc. This three-year program made $80,000 in no-interest matching loans and grants available to support highly visible improvements to buildings and storefronts.

Main Street America partnered with the Texas Main Street Program’s team of experienced leaders and expert design staff to focus the pilot in two competitively selected communities: San Augustine, led by San Augustine Main Street, and Texarkana, led by Main Street Texarkana. The success of that pilot program allowed MSA to launch a second round of revolving funds in Texas and to expand our revolving fund into more Main Street America communities, including the City of Kingsville.

VIEW THE PROJECTS

Featured Project: Pecan Point Brewing Company

With the generous support of the 1772 Foundation, Pecan Point Brewing Company in Texarkana, Texas, received a $10,000 loan/grant package for stucco repair and exterior painting as part of the first round of the Main Street America Facade Improvement Pilot Program. Check out the other projects here.