CSX, Main Street present DFA grants
Published 11:13 am Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Brad Belo, left, and Dan Howe hold the $2,500 grant from the Virginia Main Street Program for the Second Avenue Gateway project, which is behind them. Presenting the $5,000, also to the Downtown Franklin Association for the sign, are David Farley of CSX Transportation, Franklin Mayor Raystine Johnson-Ashburn and Douglas Smith of Kaufman & Canoles. — STEPHEN H. COWLES/TIDEWATER NEWS
FRANKLIN—Finishing touches and landscaping are all that remain for the gateway sign on Second Avenue. Meanwhile, grants to help pay for the project were presented Tuesday to the Downtown Franklin Association.
Giving the money in the form of oversized checks were the two contributors, CSX Transportation and the Virginia Main Street Program. Presenting the $5,000 on behalf of the railroad were David Farley, director of communications and safety, and Douglas Smith, president and chief executive officer of Kaufman & Canoles. Giving $2,500 from the VMSP was Brad Belo, VMS Community Revitalization specialist.
DFA Director Dan Howe had previously said he had contacted the two back in mid-April for the beautification project. The City of Franklin also matched some of the funds.
Another factor in having the gateway signs established has been the city’s Beautification Committee. The three other signs are on South Street, Pretlow Street and Clay Street.
Janet Boyd and Gayle Urquhart, both committee members, attended the presentation. Boyd said the Franklin Garden Club will donate the landscaping.
The City’s Department of Community Development also had a hand in the project. Donald Goodwin, director, said it’s expected to be completed within seven to 10 days.
Ben Powell of Lawrenceville Brick provided the bricks for the sign. Brickmasons Alvin Walton, Dennis Holland and Manwell Picott of AW Masonry did the work along with general contractor Alvin Lee Construction.
