Façade Improvement Grant Program (Illinois)

The City of Freeport is seeking applications for its Façade Improvement Grant Program to provide building owners with financial incentives to preserve, restore, and rehabilitate the exterior features of buildings located within the Downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District area and Downtown Historic District.

Donor Name: City of Freeport

State: Illinois

City: Freeport

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 04/12/2022

Size of the Grant: $15,000

Details:

The Façade Improvement Program is intended to assist with the costs of enhancing the outward appearance of downtown buildings. Under the program, property owners within the Downtown TIF area are eligible to apply for a primary facade grant. For purposes of this grant, a primary façade is defined as the front or main face of a building that is facing a public street.

Funding Information

The City has proposed a budget of $20,000 for 2022, funded by the Downtown TIF. The funds will be payable as a reimbursement of up to 50% of the project costs, which cannot exceed $15,000 total.

Eligible Use of Fund

Soft costs include design work, architectural, engineering, planning, and other professional fees.
Waste disposal.
Masonry work includes restoration, gentle cleaning, and repointing.
Historical window and door restoration.
Removal of non-original facing such as inappropriate siding, metal, etc.
Restoration of existing architectural elements.
Painting, awnings, exterior lighting, and window display areas are visible from the street.
Primary facades (Side of the building facing the street).

Eligible Properties

An eligible applicant must be the owner of the building for which the rehabilitation is planned; tenants are ineligible to apply. However, tenants are encouraged to work with the landlord/property owner to apply for a facade improvement grant on their behalf.

All properties within the Downtown TIF District are eligible.
Historic properties within the Downtown TIF District must adhere to the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation.
Applicants must be current on City and County property fees/taxes and have no outstanding liens or code violations on their properties.

Funding Requirements and Limitations

Submitted information and project bid estimates will be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission. The City Council reserves the right to reject any and all proposed work that does not meet the program guidelines.
Projects must be completed by Friday, September 30, 2022. A Letter of Commitment will be issued from the City upon Council approval of the award. The City reserves the right to allow a reasonable extension of this time limit upon receiving a written request from the applicant.
Sweat equity or unpaid labor performed by the owner, friends, relatives, etc. cannot be used as a portion of the cost incurred in the improvement project.
Labor costs will be reimbursed only if performed by a licensed and insured contractor that is registered with the City of Freeport. Proof of insurance is required.
This year, the Facade Improvement Grant Program is funded through the Downtown Tax Increment Finance District and through revenue generated at the Paint the Port event. As such, labor is NOT subject to prevailing wage requirements as per the City of Freeport Ordinance 2002-40. However, if the project is supported with other public funds, prevailing wage requirements will apply and certified payrolls must be provided with the reimbursement request.
To promote the efficiency of this grant program process, Certificates of Appropriateness (COA) will be reviewed and granted by the City’s Historic Preservation Commission at the public hearing referenced below. Bring your application and samples of materials to be used to this meeting.

For more information, visit Façade Improvement Grant Program.