October 14th, 2025 by WCBC Radio

The City of Cumberland continues to work with Virginia Avenue business and property owners on reinventing the city’s south end area.  October 22 at 6pm, a façade grant workshop is scheduled inside Piercing Ink at 323 Virginia Avenue. The matching grant program will provide funds to remodel storefronts.  Main Street Manager Melinda Kelleher says the workshop assists property owners through the grant application…

    

“Several people have already reached out to us that are going to apply for the grant, but this will kind of help them go through the grant process and application and make sure they understand, you know, what they need to provide to us, that kind of thing.”

The workshop will also provide information on steps property owners and retailers can take to get ready for the upcoming shopping season, including posting hours open and nighttime lighting…

“Simple, inexpensive ways that you can upgrade the front of your building. You can make it look nicer, more welcoming, more professional, just those kinds of things, particularly with the holiday season coming up, particularly if you’re a retailer.”