Incentives proposed for further Southside revitalization

A proposed incentive program for further Southside revitalization was introduced at Tuesday's Paducah Board of Commissioners meeting.

The board heard from Planning Director Nic Hutchison and Business Development Specialist Melanie Reason about the idea fleshed out by the Southside Steering Committee that would provide grants and loans to individuals and businesses.

Economic opportunity incentives would be available to small Southside businesses with less than 50 employees for exterior improvement. Grants would assist businesses in updating facades and stabilizing roofs.

There would be incentives for residential properties, as well. Those would come in the form of microgrants for repairs to residential structures in the Uppertown area and the Walter Jetton area. The microgrants would be a 50/50 match up to $5,000 for exterior work to existing structures. A separate program for home rehabilitation and new construction with a $50,000 investment would provide interest-free five-year loans of up to $27,000.