In its March board meeting, the Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) unanimously voted to award Pioneer West the first safety grant of 2024. The matching grant will go toward funding a safety lighting project, set to be completed by the end of May.
“Especially in the fall and winter, it gets dark before we close. We’ve wanted for a few years to put in lights to provide comfort and safety for our customers and Pioneers,” said Vincent Bakich, designated Pioneer wrangler at the longstanding nursery and pet supply store in downtown Centralia. “When I told the Pioneers we were getting the grant and the lighting project could move forward, everyone was very excited.”
The CDA offers safety grants to businesses in downtown Centralia, matching dollar for dollar the investment businesses make in the safety of downtown.
“We’re so proud to be able to offer these safety grants, as well as our facade and micro grants, to our business community,” said MacKenzie McGee, executive director of the CDA. “We are deeply committed to constantly working towards a better, safer downtown for businesses, locals and visitors alike, and this is just one way we are able to do so.”
The CDA isn’t done giving away grants for 2024, though.
“We still have more funding available for business owners who want to make improvements” McGee said. “Anyone interested in any of our grants should get their application in as soon as possible, because we give them out on a first-come, first-served basis. Once the funds are gone for the year, that’s all we’ve got until 2025, and we’re just itching to invest in our community.”
For more information on the CDA, grants or to apply, visit downtowncentralia.org. Email centraliadowntownassociation@gmail.com with any questions on how to apply.
