YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown’s design review committee approved an exterior improvement project, making it eligible to receive grant money from the city’s facade program.

It also postponed votes on two other projects — including one for the third time — because company representatives failed to appear for the committee’s meeting Tuesday.

With the one approval, 45 businesses have been authorized by the committee to receive grants from the program.

City council in December 2022 approved setting aside $1 million of Youngstown’s $82.7 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the facade program. It allows eligible companies to receive up to $20,000 each to help pay for the cost of exterior improvements.

In order to get the grants, companies have to obtain permission from the design review committee. Companies must show they are paying at least half of the cost of the work being done.

The facade grants are forgivable loans with a five-year term. Every year a business remains open at their location in the city, 20% of the loan is forgiven until it reaches 100% in five years.

The grant approved Tuesday is to Alexander Construction at 1121 N. Meridian Road.

The company is making $36,101 in improvements and would get an $18,050 grant.

The work includes repaving and restriping the parking lot, a new business sign, additional lighting and landscaping.

The committee declined to act on two other proposals and deferred them to the April meeting.

For the third straight month, the committee postponed a vote on a request from JZP Properties, which operates the Steel City Bar & Grill at 1418 E. Midlothian Blvd. for a grant because no one from the business attended the meeting.

JZP is seeking $8,900 from the program for a $17,800 project that includes renovating the parking lot, painting and repairing its patio and adding lighting.

The Happy Camper Learning Center at 518 E. Indianola Ave. applied for an $8,349 grant for a $16,698 project to upgrade its fencing and add lighting and shrubs.

No decision was reached by the committee because the business didn’t send a representative to the meeting.

Also Tuesday, the committee approved a request from the Knox Building, 110 W. Federal St., to have its outdoor patio installed.

The patio was removed last year by a city contractor during a major street renovation project on West Federal Street.

This led to a discussion among committee members about requiring downtown restaurants with outdoor patios to remove them during the winter months when they are not in use.

The committee members didn’t take any formal action, but may consider that policy change in the future.