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 September. Applications are reviewed and scored with grantees announced in late September of each year. There are two categories of improvements: façade or landscaping.
The Facade 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 of Enterprise Sub-Zone property, or any tenant or prospective tenant having the building owner’s written approval.
- Qualified Areas: The downtown area in which buildings are eligible consists of parcels within the Enterprise Sub-Zone with a special focus on the Main Street District.
- 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 conform to the Design Guidelines approved by the Design Committee. The Design Committee must approve any changes necessitated while the project is under construction prior to installation. All construction must be done in accordance with local code. 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 of Enterprise Sub-Zone property, or any tenant or prospective tenant having the building owner’s written approval.
- Qualified Areas: The downtown area in which buildings are eligible consists of parcels within the Enterprise Sub-Zone with a special focus on the Main Street District.
- 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 Economic Development Authority reserves the right to fund only the portion of projects which exceed the minimum development standards of the City.
- Improvement Standards: All sidewalk and landscaping improvements must conform to the Design Guidelines approved by the Design Committee. The Design Committee must approve any changes necessitated while the project is under construction prior to installation. All construction must be done in accordance with local code. 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.
