MDI making significant difference in Downtown Looks
By Dale Welch
Fitts and Company Painting
Have you noticed it? Downtown Monterey looks sharp! It will become even sharper thanks to Stat grant funds awarded to the town in December 2025. Work began in mid-July on three businesses in downtown Monterey with Fitts & Company, of Cookeville, doing painting on three different buildings. They will also be installing awnings.
Tennessee Main Street Programs and Tennessee Downtowns alumni Rounds 1-9 who are currently pursuing certified status and have an active Design Committee, are eligible for a grant from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) for downtown improvements. Grants of up to $300,000 will be awarded to organizations that can illustrate the need for improvements and the ability to execute an effective design plan for eligible properties in their downtown district. Improvement can include:
• Building Façade Improvements (At least 50% of the proposed total grant project must be for façade improvements)
• Downtown Gateway Improvements on publicly owned property • Streetscape Improvements on publicly owned property
• Downtown Courtyard Improvements-on publicly owned property
• Downtown/Wayfinding Signage • Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Safety and Stability Improvements to include roofs and sprinkler systems at a percentage of total project
• Entertainment Venue Improvements to include stages (Eligibility must be approved by TNECD)
To be eligible for a Downtown Improvement Grant, communities had to apply and be a designated Tennessee Downtowns or Tennessee Main Street community.
Monterey received a grant of $240,000. Half of the funds are to go to the Town of Monterey for streetlight improvements. Installed in the 1990s, the current poles are crumbling and have never had plugs to connect any lighted Christmas decorations. The other half goes to Monterey Downtown Inc. (MDI) for businesses to use for improvements.
MDI has approximately 20 downtown business owners as members. Julie Christenson (The French Market) is the president; Sharon York (The Charlotte) is the vice president; and Rebecca Walker (Bee Rock Brew) is secretary and treasurer. They meet at 9 a.m. on the
third Wednesday of every month. They usually meet at Bee Rock Brew so Rebecca can be there.
Each building owner applies for up to $20,000 with a proposal of what they hope to do and are chosen by a group not associated with downtown. The individual business owner gets three quotes for the work, chooses their contractor, and then pays for all the work. Once the work is done, they turn in their receipts and are refunded 75% of the amount.
When you visit our hilltop town and indulge in all the restaurants and shop in all our varied shops, you can surely say, “don’t she look pretty!”
Stop by the Monterey Depot Museum or other local businesses to pick up a Monterey Visitors Guide. Explore Monterey!
