ROSEVILLE, Calif. -- Roseville will spend $3 million to help give the Roseville Automall a face-lift in an effort to prevent further car dealer closures in the the region.

The City Council met Wednesday and decided to use money from its strategic improvement help fund for the project. Nobody spoke against the plan at the meeting.

About a dozen Sacramento-area auto dealers have shut down recently, largely as a result of poor economic conditions.

Money from the fund will be used to improve the looks of the automall and cut out a sound wall to provide better visibility for passing motorists. The automall will also help pay for construction, which is set to start next summer.

Julia Burrows, deputy city manager, said the changes are aimed at drawing in passers-by who may not have noticed the automall in the past.

Officials added that the contribution is a small investment considering that the automall is the city's largest source of sales tax revenue.