City of Bowling Green awards over $20,000 in grant matching funds to seven downtown businesses

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The City of Bowling Green announced the seven award recipients of the new Downtown Improvement Grant matching funds program Wednesday morning.

According to a release, the Bowling Green City Commission approved $21,500 in funding for seven projects at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The city says the grants represent the first round of awards through the program that was announced in July 2026.

Awarded Businesses

• Shake Rag Barbershop – $3,000 – safety and beautification efforts to improve its parking lot; including new security lights and a camera, landscaping, and parking stops.
• White Squirrel Brewery – $3,500 – exterior property improvements to clean up the building and prepare for more projects.
• Mellow Mushroom – $3,000 – its mural project on the exterior of its new to-go addition to its restaurant, which was also recently renovated.
• The Food School – $2,500 – soundproofing its classroom at the Houchens Small Business Accelerator.
• Atomic Kitchen – $3,000 – livening up Hot Rod Alley with 1980s pop culture character statues at Stadium Park Plaza.
• 904 State Street – $3,000 – restoring its historic façade on Fountain Square to resemble its turn of the 20th century look based on original photos.
• Candle Makers on the Square – $3,500 – for window replacements and signage refresh on the historic façade on Fountain Square.

The city says the Neighborhood & Community Services Department administers the program.

According to the release, the program provides financial assistance to commercial businesses, developers, tenants, and property owners undertaking improvements that strengthen Downtown’s infrastructure, aesthetics, amenities, and sense of place.

For more information, visit www.bgky.org/downtown/grant.