The City of West Haven is accepting applications for its American Rescue Plan Act Storefront Façade Improvement Grant Program.
Donor Name: City of West Haven
State: Connecticut
County: New Haven County (CT)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/15/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The storefront facade program will provide funds to businesses to enhance the character and attractiveness of the downtown area and other public shopping and pedestrian areas, as well as to provide added safety measures such as additional lighting to these areas. Successful applications will preserve or upgrade existing storefront facades to improve West Haven’s overall aesthetic and vibrance.
Funding Information
Apply for up to $10,000 for business.
Eligible Grant Uses
- Storefront/exterior improvements to facade
- New windows
- Doors
- Awnings
- Painting
- Signage attached to facade
- Siding, brick appointing
- Exterior Lighting attached to façade
- HVAC installation and/or upgrades
- Outdoor dining and patio space (must be affixed to building, no furniture)
Ineligible Grant Uses
- Work that has been completed prior to the execution of an agreement with the Department of Community Development and Planning are not eligible to participate in the program.
- New construction
- Temporary, portable, or non-permanent improvements
- NEON SIGNS
- The following improvements are not eligible under this program:
- Interior improvements
- Roofs, not part of a larger project
- Removal of architecturally significant features
- Other improvements not included in this list that are deemed ineligible by the City
Property Owner/Business Eligibility Criteria
For-profit businesses must meet the definition of a small business, meaning:
- Have no more than 50 full time employees, and
- Are a small business concern as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (which includes, among other requirements, that the business is independently owned and operated, and is not dominant in its field of operation).
Project Eligibility Criteria
Criteria complies with the most recent US Treasury Guidelines and has been reviewed by our partners at UHY.
- Business must be located within the City of West Haven
- Business must have less than 50 FTE’s
- Improvements must comply with City building and zoning standards. Proposed improvements may be required to receive SHPO approval to ensure any historical features are preserved or considered in the renovation
- Business must address how the requested funds will be used and relate to the Program objectives
- Improvements are limited to the explicit uses listed above
- Business must be in good standing with the City of West Haven AND the Connecticut Department of Revenue Service (ie. Fully permitted, up-to-date on taxes)
- Business cannot have received alternate Federal, State, or Local funding to cover the same intended costs
- Business cannot have any pending litigation or legal action
- Projects concerning outdoor dining are subject to proper permitting and zoning requirements
- Note: If Business leases space to which intended capital improvements are to be made, Copy of
- Lease and Prior written approval of Lessor will be Required. Additionally, Only Businesses that
- Own Property or Businesses with lease term extending through June 2026 will be eligible.
For more information, visit CWHC.
