ROCHELLE — On Thursday, Nov. 7, the City of Rochelle presented a facade grant check for $5,000 to the owners of the Best Building at 1201 S. 7th St. in Rochelle. 

The facade grant program covers half the cost of any improvements made to business fronts in town with a limit of $5,000. The improvements included upgrading exterior lighting and the addition of a new lighted outdoor sign. The Best Building rents out office space to various businesses as well as a space for meetings, conferences, classes and events. The new sign showcases each business that resides in the building, Co-Owners Valesia Best and Nancy Russell said. 

Best said the building’s previous sign was in disrepair and it was time for an upgrade. The new sign lights up at night. 

“We did it for our tenants,” Russell said. “It's good advertisement for them to bring attention to their businesses and the building.”

Russell said it meant a lot to her building to have access to the facade grant program, and the work likely couldn’t have taken place without it. There are currently eight tenants in the Best Building and there are plans in place for more improvements such as lighting and sprucing up the inside. 

Best said she enjoys working in a community where small businesses are valued and that the city is willing to help them succeed. The check was presented to Best and Russell by City of Rochelle Community Development Director Michelle Pease and Community Development Specialist Michelle Knight. 

“I think it's really important to spread out the funds,” Pease said. “That's why we only allow a business to get a facade grant once every five years. We want everybody to get some assistance to be able to do the upgrades they want. And it creates a visible appeal to the buildings and in the community. It's great to see the improvements and that the building has come back to life in recent years.”