The Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee and the Baltimore Village Council is excited to announce a collaborative effort to assist commercial property owners in the Downtown Business District in financing permanent, visible façade improvements.
In June, 2007 the Baltimore Village Council approved legislation funding the Baltimore Business Façade Grant Program in the amount of $5,000.00 for 2007. Permanent building projects which improve the façade of a building are eligible for this program. Maximum grants of $750.00, with an owner match of two times the grant requested, will be awarded.
“The downtown is the window of the community!”, said Mayor Robert Kalish. “We are excited to initiate a program that will indicate to the public how important the downtown business district is to our economic development activities.” “Even small budget projects can have a big visual impact on a building and help create important positive momentum for the village’s revitalization efforts”, Village Administrator Marsha Hall added.
Re-investment in the downtown benefits residents by providing better and closer shopping, a healthy local economy, and stable or improved home values. Business owners benefit by increased sales, improved image, and an increased value of business. The government benefits by an increased economic growth, positive perception of the community, and increased interest by other businesses. No one loses. Statistics show that re-investing $1.00 in the downtown will generate more than $28.00 back to the community.
Kathy Badgeley, owner of Willow Tree Cottage (a downtown Baltimore business) and Chairperson of the Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee, is pleased to be part of this initial downtown revitalization effort. “Our downtown is a reflection of our entire community. This type of program fits right in with our organization’s purpose of stimulating downtown economic development”, she stated.
GRANT INFORMATION: This grant program was initiated by Baltimore Village Council in June, 2007. The purpose of the program is to financially assist property owners of commercially-used property in the Downtown Business District with permanent, visible façade improvements. Approved projects include, but are not limited to, paint, new windows, siding, awnings, transoms, and sidewalk repairs.
For the year 2007 Village Council has committed $5,000.00 for this program. Only one award per property owner will be approved during this period. The maximum award for each application will be $750.00, and the property owner must commit two times the amount of grant requested (ie; if the owner requests $500.00, they must commit $1,000.00 to the project). This is a reimbursement grant; all expenses must paid and work must be completed prior to payment.
In 2007, there will be two application periods. Applications must be postmarked no later than August 15, 2007 for the first application period and October 15, 2007 for the second application period. Applications must be fully completed, and no work can commence until the application is approved. Once the work is completed and bills are submitted, payment will be made.
The Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee, an independent, non-profit organization whose purpose is to stimulate downtown economic development, has graciously agreed to administer this program.
Rules and Regulations
- No application will be approved if postmarked later than the deadline.
- Applications must be submitted by the property owner, even if a lessee is having the work performed.
- To be eligible, work to be performed must be permanent and visible from the street.
- The maximum grant award for a project will be $750.00, even if the project costs more than two times the award.
- To be eligible, the property must be located within the Downtown Business District and be used for business (not residential). A mixed use building (business on the first floor and residential on the second floor) is eligible.
- A property owner may apply in more than one application period within a year; however, only one grant award will be made.
- All work must be completed prior to requesting reimbursement.
- The Baltimore Downtown Restoration Committee reserves the right to make all decisions related to the implementation of this grant program. Awards will be based on the organization’s determination of which projects will most affect the district
GRANT APPLICATIONS can be obtained at The Willow Tree Cottage at
120 E. Market St., Baltimore, the municipal offices at 103 W. Market St., Baltimore, or by Clicking Here.
