Some changes could be coming to the city of Winter Park. But this isn’t so much about businesses inside. It's the outsides that could soon be seeing a makeover.

It’s part of a new $25,000 matching grant called the West Fairbanks Business Façade Program. Any business to the west of State Road 17-92 up to I-4 can apply for the grant. The city would match it up to 75 percent for a total of up to $5,000.

“This end of the street really does need some improvements," said Mark Silverman, who has owned B&B Junction for about two years. "It should be more visited by the locals and people tend to stay down at the Park Ave. area. Curb appeal is pretty important.  I ask everybody ‘how did you hear about us?’ and they say ‘I was just driving by and saw your sign,’ so that is an important factor.”

Signage, canopies and paint are the three areas the city is offering to pay for – landscaping and roofing are not included.

The new program is modeled after Business Façade Program the city implemented for the downtown area in 2008, which has been successful.

A spokesperson for the City of Winter Park said it only makes sense this project would focus on West Fairbanks because it’s a gateway to Park Avenue for those traveling to and from I-4.

Businesses can begin to apply for the grant in the next couple weeks. The city will consider the applicants based on criteria that will assess their need for improvement, their size and their location.

The city said the one year grant’s success could be a big factor in expanding the program into other areas.