BOWLING GREEN, Mo. — The Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce will be accepting applications for a new $500 business beautification grant. The new program will offer an annual grant award of $500 to one commercial business located within the City of Bowling Green.

“This is a grant we have wanted to offer for a long time,” said Tracy Brookshier, Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce President.

After a national chamber grant to help cover high school scholarship funding was secured, the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce was able to use the left over $500 dollars in their budget to create the Beautification Grant.

“I think the overall goal of this grant is to help make businesses more inviting. When businesses have a nicer store front, it shows the owners care for the business and makes customers feel more welcome,” explained Brookshier.

An application process as well as submission of a project that conforms to the City of Bowling Green’s building and zoning codes is required for any business that would like to be in consideration for the grant. Any business that is awarded the grant may only receive a grant no more frequently than every five years.

To obtain an application for the Beautification Grant stop by the Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce office or they can be downloaded on the chamber website. Applications for the grant are being accepted until October 31 at midnight, and the grant recipient will be awarded at the annual awards banquet of the Chamber of Commerce held in January 2021.

“This is new, and we want people to be aware of this opportunity. The application process is very simple, and we really want to encourage any chamber member to try and take advantage of this free $500,” said Brookshier.