MORE businesses have registered their interest in being part of Ōtorohanga District Development Board’s retail revitalisation project since seeing some buildings receive a fresh lick of paint.
Painting began this year of buildings signed up to participate in the project, which started gathering publicity and financial support last year.
The project reached its fundraising goal of $50,000 in April, but board chair Marain Hurley told the council last week that poor weather had significantly hampered progress on the actual painting.
“The painters couldn’t get a decent break at doing the bigger stores.”
The development board’s report to the council, dated as having been compiled in December, noted five businesses were scheduled to be painted at the beginning of this year and plans were in the works for a further eight.
So far three buildings have been painted, with scaffolding up on Appliance Plus Ōtorohanga for much of the past week, and they have sparked the interest of others.
“There are approximately 12 lined up in interest, just because of that visual of the three buildings,” Marain said.
“There is huge interest that has almost become infectious. We’ve had so many names of people really interested, wanting to opt into the project.”
Kio Kio Korokanui councillor Rodney Dow said he could see the potential impact of the retail revitalisation project after just the first three shops had been painted.
“It’s going to make the town look way better.
“I know there’s a lot of work that goes on in the background to get those sorts of things off the ground, but it’s pleasing to drive the main street and see they’re starting on another.
“I think that’s really going to change our town.”
