Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Program encourages owners to secure, beautify shuttered businesses

Businesses Board Up During Shutdown

Wade Vandervort

Davy’s at Rebar is boarded up and covered with a mural by artist Geneva Marquez on Main Street, downtown, Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

The city of Las Vegas has announced a program to encourage business owners to secure and beautify their buildings while closed during the coronavirus crisis.

Businesses that safeguard their buildings during the statewide shutdown — the governor ordered all nonessential businesses closed until Mid-April — can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $2,000 from the city. Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Businesses that are in a city redevelopment area and zoned commercial, industrial or mixed-use are eligible to apply. More details on eligibility can be found online.

Applicants must secure their buildings and add “art” to the boarded façades.

“Instead of blank plywood, we’d like to see something bright. Maybe a mural or painting,” city spokesman Jace Radke wrote in an email.

Only applicants with active business licenses issued by the city are eligible. To get reimbursed, businesses must complete improvements within 14 days of approval and submit a picture of the secured building with art on the façade to the city Redevelopment Agency.