October 21, 2026
BEDFORD, Ind. (Oct. 21, 2026) — Spark Downtown announces a new offering from its Façade Loan Program for southern Indiana designed to help participating communities and property owners invest in improving the appearance, preservation, and vitality of their downtown districts.
This latest program is part of Spark Downtown’s ongoing commitment to encourage investment, support local businesses, and strengthen the communities it serves. Any city or town that participates in Spark Downtown is eligible to apply for façade loan funds. Eligible applicants may receive loans of up to $5,000 at a 3% interest rate, payable over 36 months. Funds are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“This gives local property owners another tool to make meaningful improvements to their downtown buildings,” said Blaine Parker, Director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Support at Radius Indiana and Manager of the Spark Downtown Program. “Even relatively small façade improvements can make a tremendous difference in the appearance of a downtown, creating a vibrant and inviting environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.”
Improving the appearance of buildings in downtown districts is especially beneficial to smaller communities, such as those that work alongside Spark Downtown (Town of Orleans, Town of Odon, Town of Paoli, City of Washington, City of Salem, City of Loogootee, City of Bedford, City of Jasper, City of Linton, and City of Mitchell). Curb appeal can significantly raise visitor foot traffic, property values, and kickstart further investment in the surrounding area.
Because funding is limited, interested applicants are encouraged to apply for façade loans early. To apply, a city or town must be part of the Spark Downtown Program and must use funds for eligible façade improvements as outlined in the program guidelines, which can be found on the Radius Indiana website.
“Strong downtowns are built through continued investment,” said Parker. “We’re excited to offer this opportunity and help communities turn façade improvement ideas into projects that make a visible difference.”
For more information about the Façade Loan Program, eligibility requirements, and how to apply, contact Blaine Parker, Spark Downtown Facilitator, at 812-277-9778 or visit radiusindiana.com/programs/spark-downtown.