Mayor David Horton and a group of volunteers work on one of several planters recently installed along Main Street through the Radford POP! Program, which stands for Paint, Optimize, and Plant. POP! is a new matching grant program, the purpose of which is to encourage local business and commercial property owners to put money into new awnings, painting and other enhancements by offering to match the dollars spent.
Heather Bell
RADFORD- The city’s main business corridor is a lot more colorful these days, thanks to planter pots installed through the new POP program, a public-private partnership.
Radford POP!, which stands for Paint, Optimize, and Plant, is a new matching grant program, the purpose of which is to encourage local business and commercial property owners to put money into new awnings, painting and other enhancements by offering to match the dollars spent.
It was created by the Radford Economic Development Authority, co- sponsored by First NRV Federal Credit Union, and is in partnership with community organization GO! Radford.
Radford POP! is a matching grant program and pays for half the cost of the planters while the participating business pays for the other half. Recently, 16 state-of-the-art, self-watering Earthplanters were placed throughout the Main Street corridor.
I’m ecstatic about seeing the planters brightening up storefronts all over Radford,” said Paul Pallante, EDA board member and one of the founders of Go!Radford. “It makes me happy not just because they look great now, but because I believe this is the beginning of something truly wonderful that will grow each year, and make Radford a more beautiful and vibrant place to live and do business.”
A group of around 20 volunteers recently helped plant the planters and install them at participating businesses. Volunteers were a combination of of people from GO! Radford and from First NRV Credit Union’s “Power of 2700” community initiative.
“First NRV came through in a big way, not only by sponsoring the POP! program, but by getting their hands dirty with over a dozen volunteers to plant and install the planters,” said Pallante.
The plants used in the pots are annuals are annuals,Pallante explained.
“After a business pays a one–time sponsorship fee, the planters will be planted for them each spring by the city with the help of volunteer networks,”he said. “Something new and gorgeous to look forward to every spring.”
“It was incredibly fulfilling to see such a collaborative effort from so many folks in Radford to make an impact,” he continued. “It’s a great precedent for what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Pallante said city staff and a local nursery were also instrumental in the effort.
‘We also received amazing support from Radford’s new horticulturist Victoria Woffenden and her Public Grounds crew, said Pallante. “They’ve been fantastic about working the planters care into an already packed beautification schedule.
“Crow’s Nest Greenhouses was also spectacular, “ he continued. “They kept our plants alive and beautiful at their greenhouses for over six weeks in scorching heat so that we could bring those blooms to Radford’s streets.”
The matching grant program for POP! is already making an impact as well, with a few grants already approved. The Radford POP! program matches a business’s beautification investment dollar for dollar on painting, signage, awning, and planter installation projects up to a maximum amount of $2,000. Interested parties need to submit a project application to the Radford EDA for review. There is no minimum dollar amount for an application. The grant pool is limited and first come, first served. For more info about how to apply, email goradfordva@gmail.com.
