The city council voted last night to give Main Street Concord an additional $20,000 for downtown facade improvements.

The grant doubles the city's contribution this year to the organization, which saw its funding slashed from $42,500 to $20,000 during the budget process. Those cuts were made, however, with the stipulation that Main Street could come back to the council and ask for up to $20,000 for capital investments or other projects.

Main Street's executive director, Jessica Eshleman, said the money will allow the organization to continue its practice of offering matching grants to downtown businesses that do work to improve their facades. She cited Butters, Endicott Furniture and the former Pitchfork Records building as examples, though the last project is ongoing.

Asked whether more businesses had expressed interest in the grants, Eshleman said that with replenished funding, "we are certain the applications will come through. We get calls on a regular basis."

The $20,000 will come from the city's economic development reserve fund.