Wheaton Paint Bank Project

GRAB is working to engage the business community to take responsibility for cleaning up graffiti, especially now that County law (Bill No. 44-01, effective 9/16/02) requires this of them. Businesses that are defaced with graffiti often times feel powerless and too cash-strapped to respond. Furthermore, the new law can make property owners feel twice victimized: first by the vandals, second by County law. GRAB understands this problem and has arranged for businesses vandalized in downtown Wheaton to obtain free matching paint from the neighborhood Duron store. GRAB’s partners in Graffiti Be Gone are the Wheaton Urban District’s Clean & Safe Program, Duron Paints & Wallcoverings and Montgomery County Police. Funding for the program came from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention.

Here’s how the program works: Owners or managers of vandalized businesses should take a paint chip of the defaced surface, together with a paint voucher to the Duron outlet located at 11194 Viers Mill Road. Duron, in turn, will provide them with a free gallon of matching paint. Owners then have the option of calling the Wheaton Clean & Safe Team to schedule a paint-over, or to remove it themselves. Businesses are responsible for storing left over paint for future cleanups. The goal of the Wheaton Clean Team is to remove the graffiti within 24 to 48 hours.

Before painting over the graffiti, digital photographs are taken by the Clean Team and given to the Wheaton Police District. This provides law enforcement with valuable intelligence on which groups are active in the area and helps them solve other crimes, all of which has an impact on public safety in Wheaton.

Below is a sample program brochure and paint voucher. These were distributed in July 2002 to every business located in the Wheaton business district. If you are a Wheaton business in the district and you do not have a paint voucher or you need another one, call GRAB at 301/607-GRAB (4722).

Paint Voucher

Program Brochure