A motel sign on US 287 is shining brighter and helping attract customers thanks to a grant from the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation.
Enterprise Photo
Western Skies Motel received $1,536.18 from the CEDC’s Traditional Façade Grant program this week for signage upgrades and improvements. CEDC Vice President Chuck Robertson presented check to motel owners Kris and Schweta Bhakta on Tuesday morning.
CEDC provided matching funds to install new LED power supplies, LED lights, and other improvements to the highway sign.
The Bhaktas say the sign project is just part of their continuing efforts to upgrade the motel and make it more attractive for visitors. Since 2025, all bathrooms have been fully renovated, exterior painting has been completed, and the breakfast area has been improved in addition to several other enhancements. The couple plans to work on the garden area in front of the motel next.
This week’s award brings the CEDC’s total for Traditional Façade Grants to $37,918.22 since 2008.
The CEDC Traditional Façade Grant Program provides fifty-fifty matching grants up to a maximum of $2,000 per project for properties in Clarendon’s Central Business District and along the US 287 corridor through the city.
A companion program, the Historic Façade Grant Program, awards grants of up to 80 percent of the actual, eligible costs up to a maximum amount of $400 per linear foot of the storefront (i.e. $10,000 for a 25-foot storefront or $20,000 for a 50-foot storefront). That program’s focus is to preserve and cultivate the historic character of buildings in the Central Business District and along the US 287 corridor. A total of $9,200 has been awarded in Historic Façade Grants since 2021.
To apply for a façade grant, visit clarendontx.com/cedc/facade-grants/.
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