Canton property owners affected by last month's fire in the downtown district are eligible for help from the state government.

Ginger Garrard, manager of the city's Main Street Program, and Bill Grant of the city's Main Street Board have found low-interest loans available to the merchants.

The property owners qualify for loans of as much as $250,000 from the Georgia Cities Foundation and the Department of Community Affairs.

The early morning fire on Dec. 26 caused by a circuit breaker electrical failure destroyed three buildings and damaged three more.

The 101 East Main St. building (Art 101 Gallery and Boutique on the first floor and the paralegal office of Wes Frye on the top floor), Taylor's Jewelry at 111 E. Main St. and James Cannon's accounting office at 150 S. Church St. were destroyed.

Jones and Cloud Insurance at 121 E. Main St., which houses David Lloyd Homes on the top floor; the Canton Shoe Shop at 140 E. Main St. and the Mason Law Firm at 160 S. Church St. suffered damaged.

"We will look into anything, I'm sure," Cannon said about the available loans.

Daniel Mason of the Mason law Firm said he appreciates the city government's efforts in helping business owners open back up in downtown.

"If I need funds after insurance, I will definitely consider it," he said. "I think it is a very good idea."

Sam Cloud of Jones and Cloud Insurance said he does not yet know whether they will take advantage of the grants.

John Fincher, who owns the 101 and 111 E. Main St. buildings, could not be reached for comment about the grants. He has said he hopes to rebuild using insurance funds.

Grant, president of Grant Design Collaborative in downtown Canton, said city leaders and volunteers want to help the businesses in any way they can.

"Our goal is for each of the businesses to rebuild as soon as possible," he said. "We had a lot of momentum. We want them to get back to business as usual so we can continue that momentum."

Ms. Garrard said she hopes bricks from the Art 101 building, a historic structure that began life as the Canton Drug store, could be salvaged and used in the rebuilding.

"We should at least be able to build the fa ade," she said about using the old brinks in the reconstruction.