Market Lubbock, Inc. has announced that nine local businesses have participated in the organization’s downtown grant program.

Market Lubbock’s downtown grant program started in November 2016 to encourage investment and redevelopment in downtown Lubbock.

The businesses were introduced during a press conference on Tuesday, October 31st. Read the full press release below:

To date, RTGS Broadway Development LP, RAW Oil & Gas, Inc., Infection Controls, Inc., Lubbock Radio Paging, The Garden, Boatwright Law, Mc & Mc Properties, RDM7, LLC and The Brewery LBK, have received grants to renovate their respective properties.

RTGS Broadway Development LP converted the second-floor courtroom in the old Lubbock federal building into a living space and built multiple new offices with total rentable square footage of 6,513 on the basement level of the property located at 800 Broadway. The total capital investment was $604,257.

RAW Oil & Gas, Inc., which has been engaged in the exploration, acquisition and production of crude oil and natural gas in West Texas since 2002, remodeled its downtown property at 1415 Buddy Holly Ave. The work included remodeling offices on the second floor, demolishing walls on the ground floor and building seven new offices featuring new windows and power and light packages totaling $266,558 in capital investment.

Infection Controls, Inc. (dba Germblast), a business which provides a comprehensive and innovative solution to significantly lower the number of illnesses and infections caused by dangerous microorganisms found in the environment, renovated the front of their downtown property at 1414 Ave. J. The renovations included installing a new sign, replacing garage doors and a damaged awning on the exterior of the building totaling $61,558 in capital investment.

"We are excited for our company and its headquarters to be a part of Lubbock’s downtown revitalization," said Wes Goldwater, CIO for GermBlast. "Market Lubbock has always been a great partner for us, and we are grateful to them for making opportunities like this available."

Lubbock Radio Paging, Inc. (dba Stenocall), a locally owned full-line telecommunications company doing business as Stenocall, repaired damaged awnings on their property at 1515 Ave. J. The company completed repairs that included replacing damaged material to two awnings on the exterior of the building totaling $4,735 in expenses.

Owner Mark Martinez converted the property formerly known as the Cactus Courtyard in the Depot Entertainment District into The Garden at 1801 Buddy Holly Ave. The scope of work included stucco repair, paint and custom signs totaling $7,145 in expenses.

Nicky Boatwright, a local defense attorney, renovated the façade and parking lot of her property at 1005 Broadway. The scope of work included brick and mortar repair, painting and repairing the front façade and restriping the parking lot and replacing damaged curb stops totaling $5,005 in expenses.

Mc & Mc Properties, developer of the Pioneer Building at 1204 Broadway, is converting the third floor into a pocket hotel (all booking and access will be handled online) featuring 10 guest rooms. The rooms will range from 315 square feet to 820 square feet. The scope of work will include structural, plumbing and electrical work totaling $488,323 in expenses.

RDM7, LLC, led by Bart Reagor, a major investor in the downtown area, is converting the former Hemphill Wells building, located at 1212 Ave. J, into 2,500 square feet of office space. The scope of work will include structural, plumbing and electrical work totaling $340,464 in expenses.

Cameron and Rachel West, owners of The West Table Kitchen and Bar inside the Pioneer Building at 1204 Broadway, are expanding in the downtown area. The Wests are converting the bottom floor of the Pioneer into a brewpub called The Brewery LBK. The scope of work will include demolition, concrete, structural, plumbing and electrical work totaling $252,837 in expenses.

“Both our largest and smallest employers have been telling us for years that one of the reasons it is hard to recruit workforce to Lubbock is the state of our downtown,” said John Osborne, President and CEO of Lubbock Economic Development Alliance and Market Lubbock. “This grant program is designed to encourage existing and new property owners to invest in the appearances of downtown as well as ensure that buildings are ready for businesses and residents to occupy.”

Within the program, there are two grants that businesses can apply for: façade and permittable grants.

The façade grant focuses on the outside appearance of a building. This grant covers 50 percent of the expenses up to $25,000.

The second type of grant is a permittable project that includes improvements to property that require a city permit. This grant will cover 10 percent of the cost up to $100,000. Before the permittable project can start, a permit must be pulled. The city must then approve the scope of the work before the funds are granted by Market Lubbock.

Each grant is considered with the mindset of preserving the character of downtown.

If you are interested in learning more about Market Lubbock's downtown grant program, please contact Jorge Quirino, special projects coordinator for LEDA and Market Lubbock, at 800.687.5330.

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