11-08-2006 Portage Avenue: Building New Opportunities

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Q Building New Opportunities FACT SHEET Commercial Corridor Initiative Goal: To improve South Bend's key entryways into the city. Vision: City planners working together with area stakeholders to improve the City of South Bend. City provides staff support for planning and implementation. To date: $6.75 Million in public investment on all corridors. Portage Avenue Steering Committee Portage Avenue Corridor is one of five gateways into the City of South Bend, and is bounded by Marion Street to the south and Kinyon Street to the north. The other corridors are Miami St.; Lincoln Way West; Western Ave.; and South Michigan & South Main Streets. All corridor development is overseen by the Portage Avenue Steering Committee, which is comprised of residents,Portage Avenue business and agency representatives, and other stakeholders serving on a volunteer basis. The Steering Committee recently developed a marketing brochure for Portage Avenue in order to promote the area to potential businesses and customers. Streetscape improvements at King Street and along Portage Avenue from Golden to Angela are hoped to increase pedestrian friendliness and enhance area beautification. To date, fifteen Matching Fagade Grants have been awarded by the Committee to area businesses, for $175,540 of total investment in commercial buildings along the corridor. Since 1999, the Portage Avenue Corridor has received $851,000 from the City's Commercial Corridor Initiative.