The Leitchfield Public Square received its first boost to building revitalization when the city council received word there was a $20,000 matching grant available through the Kentucky Main Street Program.

The City of Leitchfield was previously accepted into the program as a candidate this summer but there was little hope of money being available to help improve the look of the Square.

Grayson County Industrial Consultant Dudley Cooper announced at the council meeting Monday night money has suddenly become available.

Cooper said he was surprised when Harry Carver from the Department of Local Government told him there would be grants available.

The grant is a matching grant that will be offered to the owners of the buildings in the square that are in need of renovation, landscaping or other repairs.

The Kentucky Main Street Program.is based on a four-point approach developed by the National Main Street Center, a division of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since 1979, this program has been a successful addition toward reversing the economic decline in Kentucky’s downtowns, both small and large.

Mayor William Thomason said there are already two owners who have expressed an interest in taking part in the grant.

Dwight Embry of Premier Renovation was one of the two property owners who had expressed that interest.

“I am excited about this opportunity,” said Embry. “These renovations will make the whole town look better.”

Premier Renovation owns the building the News-Gazette is located in and renovated the inside a few years ago when the paper moved into the building.

Embry has been planning to renovate the outside of the building since completing the inside.

“The first thing I want to do is take the exterior back to its original state like we did the inside,” said Embry. “I want to take the glass all the way up and put period windows on the second floor. Back in the 1970s the building was modernized and I think that took away some of the integrity of the building.”

The application process for the grants began November 10 and will close on December 31. Grant funds shall be used for capital projects that contribute to downtown revitalization in eligible cities.

Building owners make application to the local Renaissance program for a 50 percent reimbursement on frontage work to their building

Eligible applicant activities include but are not limited to: masonry repair, re-pointing, structural stabilization, roofing, window and door repair, signage, awnings, painting, cornice repair, storefront improvements, design costs and new construction in-fill.

Owners of the property around the square who are interested in applying for the grant are asked to contact city hall for more information. The applications will be reviewed by the Leitchfield City Council at the next meeting.