Business grants helping to fix the upstairs of downtown

ASHEBORO — Two downtown business owners each received close to $25,000 from the City of Asheboro’s new local incentives program. 

At the June 4 city council meeting, Grants Writer Nate Marsh presented requests to help revitalize two buildings in the downtown area.

The city council approved the requests for William Ivey Antiques and Collective Interiors.

New windows on South Church Street

The first was made by Brad Ivey on behalf of Bill Ivey. They asked the city to contribute a 50/50 match of $24,494.50 to fix windows at 118 South Church Street.

According to Marsh, they’ve had prospective tenants ask about using the back storefront for storage. First, they need to fix the windows to keep rain from leaking inside. 

The windows are original from the days it was used as a mill. They must fix 10 on the second floor and two on the first floor.

The Iveys looked at repairing them, but companies declined because the windows are in such bad condition. They ultimately got a quote of nearly $50,000 for full replacements.

Without funding, Marsh told city council members the Iveys would have to board up the windows with stucco, a choice that does not look aesthetically pleasing and deprives the upstairs of natural light.

Opening space for interior design

Neal Griffin III applied for $25,000 to renovate the second floor of Collective Interiors on 129 Sunset Avenue.

He plans to fix up the space for Amy Barney, Collective Interiors’ founder and principal designer. She wants to use it as an appointment-based design studio.

Right now, the upstairs has no air conditioning or heat, outdated electronics, deteriorating windows, and the walls need repairs. Marsh told council members that Griffin also wants to add more upstairs windows that look out over downtown. He’s talked to four contractors, with the work totaling $89,500.

Marsh mentioned that Collective Interiors was on Church Street for over 10 years and recently moved into the storefront on Sunset. 

The downstairs store will stay open during the repairs. He said they will work with Downtown Development Manager Addie Corder to keep it consistent with the area’s historic preservation status.

About the small incentives program

Asheboro’s Small Business Investment Incentive Program started this year. It is part of the city’s efforts to help small business owners expand or contribute to local economic development.

Marsh helped city staff design the program. Applicants can request one of two incentives. Ivey and Griffin went with the building reuse/renovation incentives. It grants them a 50 percent reimbursement for up to $25,000 on improvements to commercial and industrial buildings.

The second incentive provides funding for business owners to add new job positions. Applicants are advised to first hold a consultation with members of the Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Asheboro, Inc., or the Randolph County Economic Development Commission to make sure they meet the qualifications. The Redevelopment Commission reviews applications and makes recommendations to the city council, who have final approval.

Because both requests came at the very end of the 2025-26 fiscal year, City Manager Donald Duncan said they included the funds in the budget that begins in July.

Council member Mary Joan Pugh said, “This program is really working. These are our first two applicants, and they show it was very much needed.”