Macomb is reviving its Downtown Façade Grant Program, with $50,000 set aside for the program this year.
Mayor Mike Inman said there is interest in the program, though it’s difficult to estimate how many projects might get completed with that amount of money.
“Everything’s expensive these days. It depends on the size of the project. We’d like to think we’d get a couple of good projects out of that,” he said.
The grants will be paid for with revenue from the city’s downtown Tax Increment Finance District.
The city will cover two-thirds of the cost of the work, up to $20,000.
“That’s a pretty good deal,” Inman said.
The projects must be for building exteriors.
Macomb discontinued its façade improvement program when the city’s previous TIF District expired.
The new TIF District was approved about a year-and-a-half ago.
Eligible work includes for the downtown façade program includes:
- Painting
- Exterior cleaning
- Window and/or door repairs or replacements
- Tuck pointing or brick replacement
- Addition of awnings or canopies
- Restoration of historic or architectural details
- Removal of inappropriate coverings or elements
- Exterior structural repairs
Sign-only projects are not eligible.
Building owners must obtain two or more qualified contractor bids and pay for one-third or more of the project before the city invests in it.
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