The Façade Rebate, a storefront improvement program, provides grants to owners of commercial property within certain designated areas. Troost from 47th to 85th and Prospect from Swope Parkway to 85th St. are designated areas. Maximum grants of $5000 or 50% of the total project costs (whichever is less) are awarded per building. Masonry repairs, exterior painting and lighting, awnings and attached signs, window and door replacement, landscaping and other exterior improvements to the building visible from the street qualify for reimbursement.

Battleflood Heights/Marlborough Community Coalition is pleased to announce the addition of a new rain garden in the neighborhood. Planted in June of this year in 100-degree weather, the garden was started with small to medium native plants. A few more deep-rooted plants were added. This beautiful starter garden is a result of many hours of planning and labor provided by volunteers from the Environmental Protection Agency, Mid-America Regional Council, and UMKC.

The garden was placed in a resident's yard. Two downspouts were disconnected and now feed into the rain garden. For the next two years, UMKC is actively monitoring the outflow of rain off the roof, the rain garden itself and the testing of water drainage. The garden is registered with the KCMO 10,000 Rain Gardens project and joins several other rain gardens now in Southtown!

The following organizations joined or renewed their membership with the Southtown Council from June through September.

News on the street: a three year lease was signed the owners of Messy's Birds and Brews for the former Phil's Diner at 634 E. 63rd. The new tenants will be operating a dine-in, drive thru, and carryout/delivery restaurant featuring chicken wings with many and varied sauces, pork tenders, burgers, and Philly steak sandwiches. This is their 2nd location with the other location at 3605 Broadway. They hope to be open later this month.

[img_assist|nid=534|title=C & C Printing Co.|desc=|link=node|align=center|width=150|height=97]The Southtown Beautification Committee selected C&C Printing Company, LLC, 912 E. 63rd St., for the September Sparkle Award. In business for the past two years, owner David Curtis moved into the previous space of Kwik Kopy. He provides printing of all types including business forms, flyers, booklets, calendars, business cards, newsletters and much more. Other services include faxing and notary.
They are a full service printing and copying company including full color commercial printing and graphic design. The shop is open from 9a to 6p Monday through Friday.

[img_assist|nid=531|title=StoryCorps|desc=|link=node|align=right|width=150|height=90]StoryCorps, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to recording, preserving, and sharing the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs, is recording interviews in Kansas City from September 9 to October 2, 2010. StoryCorps' MobileBooth-an Airstream trailer outfitted with a recording studio-is parked in Brookside near 63rd St. and Brookside Blvd. StoryCorps has partnered with KCUR Radio, Kansas City's National Public Radio station, to collect 120 interviews. StoryCorps is sponsored locally by Mid-Continent Public Library. KCUR will air a selection of the local interviews recorded in the StoryCorps MobileBooth and create special programs around the project.