The deadline for businesses to apply for this year’s round of Gloucester Main Street façade and interior improvement grants is fast approaching.

Businesses have until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1, to get their applications in for the Main Street Preservation Trust’s 2017 grants, according to MSPT executive director Jenny Crittenden.

The program is now in its seventh year for awarding façade grants and in its fifth year for awarding interior and merchandising assistance grants in Gloucester Court House. This year, $80,000 is available to be awarded, Crittenden said. In 2016, requests for funds totaled $153,000, with MSPT making awards of over $85,000.

Each business that receives an award must put up at least dollar for dollar, but many businesses put up more than the required match in order to complete a project, Crittenden said. Businesses can receive grants for more than one year, she said, but the subsequent grant must be for a new phase. The money is tur...