‘For small businesses, it's amazing to have access to a program like this’

ROCHELLE — On Monday, the City of Rochelle presented a check for $1,909.55 to Cypress House Owner Krista Stewart as part of its facade grant program.

The program covers half the cost of any improvements made to business fronts in town with a limit of $5,000. The retail shop at 718 10th Ave. is the latest recipient of the program. Stewart said facade improvements included landscaping, new signage, overhead lighting and planters. Cypress House recently celebrated its 17th anniversary in business. 

“I've wanted to work on the patio since we bought the place, so that's 17 years in the making. I was telling the city earlier that seeing the visual approach from Illinois Route 251 of the street here with the umbrellas and the lighting, it kind of draws your eye down this way if you're driving by and it might make you think to stop.”

The improvements have made a difference for the Cypress House’s outdoor markets that it holds. The city also recently completed landscaping work at the corner of Illinois Route 251 and 10th Avenue. 

Stewart thanked the city for the facade grant program. 

“For small businesses, it's amazing to have access to a program like this and it makes such a huge difference in the working relationship between the city and the small businesses,” Stewart said. “We know they're here to support us and we're there for the community.”

The Cypress House owner called the facade improvements “great to work on.” Local vendors were used including Lichty Landscaping from Monroe Center and Hub Printing for the signage. 

“It just kind of works more with the vision that we're going for with more of a clean and contemporary look on the storefront than the old wooden sign that was there,” Stewart said. “I was very grateful to see the difference it all made. We just celebrated our 17th anniversary of being open. I look at the pictures of how it used to look before we even purchased it until now, and it's a complete turnaround.”