The first two recipients of a new “vacant storefront tax credit program” in Northampton, Mass. are LGBTQ-owned: the Many Graces Farm & Design florist shop is located on West Street near Smith College, and Assemble, which sells repurposed furniture and local art and work by local artisans, is at the corner of Maine and Old South streets.
The Daily Hampshire Gazette goes on to report:
Each will receive $20,000 in tax relief split evenly between the state and the city.
At Many Graces, acceptance into the vacant storefront program is helping them open the flower shop at 33 West St. and to expand next door using the site of the former East Heaven hot tub store for a new bar and café, where customers can enjoy drinks while being among the locally grown flowers the shop is known for.
“Historically, 70% of what we grow has left the area to other wholesale markets, like in Boston,” said Rebecca Maillet, the founder and owner of Many Graces. “The impetus for this new project is we wanted to create a beautiful space where our community can enjoy the beautiful flowers that Many Graces Farm grows.” …
Assemble, known for selling repurposed furniture and sculptures, local art and handmade goods, moved to its current location from Thornes Marketplace in July, thanks to a Patronicity crowdfunding campaign, which reaped more than $20,000 from nearly 200 patrons, and $40,000 through a matching grant program through the Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation.
With the tax relief offered through the vacant storefront program, Assemble and its co-owner, Justin Brown, will look to add additional outdoor signs on its storefront.
“Part of my reason to wait was I wanted to see what the building will look like in different parts of the seasons, and then make a choice that makes sense,” he said. “Part of the challenge of this storefront is that it’s curved, so we’re trying to figure out the best way to do it.”
Brown, who co-owns Assemble with his boyfriend Joe Romanos, said being accepted into the tax relief program is a sign of greater support of LGBTQ+ businesses in the state. Another encouraging sign, he said, was the recent opening of an office for the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce in Easthampton.
Read the complete Daily Hampshire Gazette story here.
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