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NATCHEZ — Building owners and lessors in the Historic Downtown Natchez Main Street District have until an Aug. 2 deadline to apply for grant funds available through the American Rescue Plan Act for balcony, awning, and façade improvements.

A total of $160,000 has been made available for disbursement through the non-profit Downtown Natchez Alliance with the goal of transforming the Natchez cityscape, extending the life of historic downtown buildings and promoting downtown living and tourism.

The program may fund up to 75 percent of approved project costs with property owners expected to match funds with their own.

Eligible projects include the recreation or repair of original balconies; installation or repair of awnings, façade improvements tied to the development of upper floors for residents; or projects that extend the life of historic buildings via structural or masonry stabilization, waterproofing, for or window restoration, professional rehabilitation or painting.

The projects can only be within the Historic Downtown Natchez Main Street District, which extends from the bluff to Orange Avenue and from Madison Street to Orleans Street.

Grant applications will be scored and DNA will decide who shall get the funds, DNA Director Kevin Miers said.

The grants are divided into two portions, $100,000 for balconies and $60,000 for awnings and facades.

Because these are government dollars being used on private businesses, DNA will not be giving anyone checks, Mires said. Rather, the organization will bid out the projects and pay the contractors directly.

For more information about the grant program, email director@natchezdna.org or visit natchezdna.org.