NORWICH – Many of the buildings in downtown Norwich are beginning to take on a new look, thanks to a 50/50 matching grant administered by the Norwich Business Improvement District.

According to BID Executive Director Pegi LoPresti, the Main Street Grant has been in the works for nearly two years, and now, work is finally beginning. The grant, offered by the New York State Housing and Trust Fund Corporation, is organized through the Norwich BID, and aids local businesses in need of improvements. The Main Street Grant allows local businesses to make improvements, with half of the money coming from the grant and the other half paid for by the business owner.

The BID received two rounds of funding for the grant, for a total of $400,000 in grant funds, and a total of $800,000 in improvements to downtown businesses.

“We want to spend every penny of these funds,” LoPresti said.

Businesses participating in the program include Chiarino’s Insurance, The Broad Street Tavern, A Cut Above, The Coffee Connection, Garf’s Deli, Hayes Office Products, Ives Cream, McLaughlin’s, McNeil Jewelers, Irmin Mody, The Masonic Temple, and the vacant storefronts that were previously home to The Corner Cigar and All American Sports Shop.