The Alpena Area Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is offering a small incentive to encourage downtown businesses to change their signs.

The new grant program will provide up to $125 to businesses that switch to perpendicular signs – those that protrude from a building.

In the summer of 2011, the CVB hired a Seattle firm to look at the community and provide suggestions on how to attract more visitors. 

That firm made a number of low or no-cost suggestions that would help create a more inviting, appealing and vibrant town.  One of them was to use perpendicular or “blade” signs downtown that not only make a storefront more attractive but can also increase sales.

Deb Pardike, Executive Director of the CVB said, “We agree that the signs will be an enhancement and are simply offering to help defray a portion of the cost.”

The $125 grants are limited to downtown businesses and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.  Applications are due by May 15.  For more information call 354-4181.