KAUKAUNA — Thanks to funding from the American Recovery Plan Act passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021, Kaukauna’s business districts are getting some much needed TLC.
Kaukauna has received a total of roughly $1.7 million in American Recovery Plan Act funding.
Roughly $300,000 of that has been directed to the Renew Kaukauna program which will breathe new life into the city’s uptown and downtown business districts.
To kick off Renew Kaukauna members of the Redevelopment Authority and city staff worked together earlier this month to plant flowers in the new planters around our downtown area.
The following businesses volunteered to water and weed the flower planters in front of their businesses:
- Designerz Ink LLC
- The Hair Loft Salon
- Verbeten’s
- Blackhawks Chief Tobacco and Vape
- St. Vincent de Paul
- Edward Jones – Gabriel Koch + Laney Anton
- Three Otter’s Photography
- Midwest Workwear
- Mena’s Place
For more information about this program, or to request a planter by your business, please contact Kaukauna’s Planning Department at 920.766.6305.
Another major initiative is a grant program for businesses to add a mural to their building, The new Beautification Grant can cover up to $2,500 of the costs associated with the mural.
If you are interested in applying for a grant or learning more contact Director of Planning and Community Development, Joe Stephenson at (920) 766-6370 or jstephenson@kaukauna.gov.
The Renew Kaukauna program is designed to address longstanding issues with the historic but aging buildings in the city’s commercial districts.
Sixty-four commercial buildings, between uptown and downtown, are over 100 years old and another dozen buildings are over 70 years old.
The historic charm of the city’s core is one of its greatest assets, but an old building needs a lot of work to remain usable and aesthetically pleasing, according to the city’s description of the project.
Planning staff proposes a three-pronged approach to “renewing” Kaukauna’s Commercial Core.
- Façade Improvement Program (FIP)
- Interior Renovation Program (IRP)
- Downtown Beautification
Total Budget: $300,000
Façade Improvement Program: $170,000
Interior Renovation Program: $100,000
Downtown Beautification: $30,000
More information:
Beautification Program Application
Renew Kaukauna Program Application
With questions, please contact the Director of Planning and Community Development, Joe Stephenson at 920.766.6370 or jstephenson@kaukauna.gov.
