Six Nevada communities earn downtown revitalization grants

Six Nevada communities earn downtown revitalization grants
Ely's historic downtown. Image: Sydney Martinez / Travel Nevada

CARSON CITY – The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development this week announced six new recipients for the Nevada Main Street Program grants. The awards, which total $126,034, were provided to Gardnerville, Mesquite, Reno, Tonopah, Wells and Ely.

Nevada Main Street is a program that helps communities revitalize downtown areas to support business creation and retention. GOED’s intent behind the program is to foster “economically vibrant” communities and overcome issues and challenges commercial districts often face. The program was created in 2019 and has awarded $375,000 through 19 grants.

“All of these projects will help create a sense of place and celebrate unique main street districts in each community,” said Patty Herzog, GOED Director of Rural Economic and Community Development.

Each community must match the grant award with local funding and donated services.

This year’s grants are:

  • Gardnerville: $9,750 to establish a Memorial Wall to commemorate the dedication of Main Street volunteers. The wall will be located at Heritage Park.
  • Mesquite: $18,884 to install a public art feature and provide artistic wraps for utility boxes in partnership with the Mesquite Public Arts Commission.
  • Reno: Up to $30,000 for illumination of the ReTrac Plaza Mural.
  • Tonopah: $30,000 to install 3-D custom-made metal artwork on handrails along Main Street, and to paint an interactive 3-D-mural on the outside of the Tonopah Convention Center.
  • Wells: $17,000 for a “Paint the Town” project to restore historical paint colors to commercial buildings in the Main Street district.
  • Ely: Up to $20,400 for expansion of the Ely Mural Project that tells the story of “Where the World Met and Became One” highlighting the Ely Shoshone Tribe, a wildlife scene, and a depiction of a 1919 military convey.

Source: GOED