Tryon Mayor Alan People’s has proposed a new idea that if approved he said could turn into a grant program for downtown businesses.

The program would ask Tryon water customers to round up their water bills to the next dollar with the extra funding being used to help fund the downtown streetscape.

The program would be voluntary with the town keeping the extra funding in a separate line item and implementing a committee to oversee the funds.

Peoples said when the account has $3,000 or so, the town could have businesses apply for a grant, which would be 50/50 matching. His idea is for the grants not to exceed $1,500 with a business only being awarded a grant every three years.

Peoples said about a year ago he went to a presentation by then Mayor Robert Parton of Scotland Neck regarding ways to raise funds to help with the downtown streetscape.