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NATCHEZ — Friday, Aug. 2, is the deadline for commercial downtown building owners and tenants to apply for any of the $160,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds that Downtown Natchez Alliance is dispersing to improve building façades, balconies and awnings.

The grant is designated for improvements that involve placemaking, building stabilization or improvements that encourage downtown living. It is divided into two portions, DNA Director Kevin Miers said; $100,000 is allocated for balconies and $60,000 for awnings and building facades.

It will fund up to 75 percent of improvements if the property owner will match the remaining cost. These applications will be scored and DNA will decide who shall get the funds.

All of the projects have to be selected, bid on by contractors and have approved contracts in place by Dec. 31.

DNA will not be giving anyone checks, Miers said, but will pay contractors directly.

The program is open to all commercial building owners in DNA’s official downtown district. Applications can be downloaded at www.NatchezDNA.org.

For more information about the grant program, email Miers at kevin@natchezdna.org.

For those not wanting to invest in major building improvements, Miers told downtown merchants on Wednesday that there are other ways they can help improve the look of downtown Natchez.

To start, Miers encouraged all downtown business owners to clean up their storefronts by pressure washing, painting, etc. to make them look newer and nicer and to decorate with flowers or color outside to make a walk through downtown more beautiful and inviting.

Some merchants complained about the large trash bins that crowd alleyways and suggested hiding them or tidying them up.

“It makes an amazing difference when businesses can help,” Miers said.