Building Improvement grants

The Building Improvement Grant is an annual, competitive, reimbursable grant available for businesses in the downtown and East Main Street qualifying area to make improvements to the front of their buildings. Based on annual appropriation from City Council, the grant program is announced in July of each year with applications due in August. Applications are reviewed and scored with grantees announced in September. There are two categories of improvements: façade or landscaping.

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Wayne Theater Building at Night

The Façade Improvement Grants are reimbursement grants, available for 50% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of $5,000. An applicant may apply for reimbursement for more than one facade when buildings front on more than one street. However, based on the annual allocation, funds remaining in current budget, other pending applications, and/or other circumstances, the EDA reserves the right to only reimburse for one façade facing or one landscape facing per fiscal year. Projects of this magnitude should be discussed with the Director of Economic Development prior to submission.

Qualified Applicant: Any owner or tenant with owners written permission of a property located in the Enterprise Sub-Zone.

Qualified Areas: The Enterprise Sub-Zone includes the Central Business District and Rockfish Gateway areas. See map or contact the Economic Development office with questions.

Qualified Improvements: External improvement to the property façade, such as painting, including walls, windows, doors, awnings, lighting, and signage. This includes installations, significant repairs that are part of a larger improvement project, replacements, and cleaning and repointing of masonry.

Improvement Standards: All façade improvements must be done in accordance with local code. The EDA must approve any changes necessitated while the project is under construction prior to installation. Property owners are responsible for obtaining building and/or sign permits where applicable.

The Landscaping Improvement Grants are reimbursement grants, available for up to 50% of the total project cost, up to a maximum of $4,000. Qualifying improvements include landscaping and sidewalk improvement costs. Applications may include improvements to all sides of the property that are located within the Enterprise Zone and are generally required to exceed the minimum requirements of the City’s landscaping ordinance or site development review to qualify.

Qualified Applicant: Any owner or tenant with owners written permission of a property located in the Enterprise Sub-Zone.

Qualified Areas: The Enterprise Sub-Zone includes the Central Business District and Rockfish Gateway areas. See map or contact the Economic Development office with questions.

Qualified Improvements: Any external improvement to sidewalks and landscaping, including installation of new sidewalks, replacement of existing sidewalk, installation of handicap ramps, planting of trees and permanent landscaping fixtures, movable landscaping pots/baskets, and any additional amenities related to landscaping, such as landscaping boulders, grates, curbing, pavers, screening and/or irrigation. The EDA reserves the right to fund only the portion of projects that exceed the minimum development standards of the City.

Improvement Standards: All sidewalk and landscaping improvements must be done in accordance with local code. The EDA must approve any changes necessitated while the project is under construction prior to installation. Property owners are responsible for obtaining building and/or sign permits where applicable. Proposed landscaping shall be native to Virginia. A means of irrigation must be provided to assure adequate plant establishment and/or plant hydration needs. As consideration of landscaping grant approval, the property owner/tenant shall be responsible for, and hereby agrees to, the maintenance and long-term care of the approved improvements.

Building Improvement Grant Application

"*" indicates required fields

Identification of Building

Building Street Address*
Is the building is located in the enterprise sub zone:*

Applicant Information

Applicant Name*
Best number to reach you during the day.
Mailing Address*
Preferred Communication:*
Landlord Name*
If selected for grant, we will need written landlord approval.
Landlord Mailing Address

Business Description

Are you an existing business or looking to start a new business?*
Is your business located within the city limits of Waynesboro?*
Is the business address a physical location that receives customers?*
Are your City of Waynesboro taxes and fees current?*
MM slash DD slash YYYY
MM slash DD slash YYYY
How is your business organized?
For reporting classification purposes only, please check all that apply:

Project Description

This is your opportunity to be persuasive and tell us why this project is important.
Do you have any Historic Photographs of your building?*
Type of Improvement (Check all that apply):*
Please provide quotes for cost estimate(s) as an attachment below.

Additional Attachments Required

To complete your application, please provide the following additional documents by the application deadline. You may attach using the upload forms below OR email attachments to OR mail / hand deliver to 301 W. Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980. ALL ATTACHMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY NOON ON AUGUST 7, 2026.
Max. file size: 128 MB.
Max. file size: 128 MB.
Max. file size: 128 MB.
Max. file size: 128 MB.
Max. file size: 128 MB.