The City of Toledo, Department of Economic Development hereby announces the availability of $525,000 in funding for the White Box Grant Program.
Donor Name: City of Toledo
State: Ohio
City: Toledo
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 04/17/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The White Box Grant program helps property owners bring vacant first-floor commercial spaces up to current code to create a functional “white box” space ready for customization and occupancy by a business.
The program is designed to incentivize property owners to bring vacant first-floor commercial spaces up to current codes to create a functional “”white box”” space ready for customization and occupancy by a business.
Funding Information
The grant reimburses 70% of the eligible interior renovation expenses required to meet current state and local building code, fire safety code, and accessibility requirements, as demonstrated by stamped architectural or engineering drawings. The minimum reimbursement is $25,000 and the maximum is $75,000.
Grant Period
The grant is subject to a two-year period of compliance and reporting.
Eligible Expenses
The grant provides funding to bring vacant first-floor commercial spaces up to code with the goal of receiving a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion. Eligible expenses address deficiencies in complying with building code, fire code, or accessibility requirements, as outlined below.
- Eligible Building Code Improvements
- Interior improvements needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) for the intended use, or a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:
- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) replacement or upgrades to meet the requirements of the OBC and the Ohio Mechanical Code for the intended use.
- Plumbing rough-in to meet requirements of the OBC and Ohio Plumbing Code.
- Electrical services upgrades or modifications to meet the requirements of the OBC and the National Electrical Code, including, but not limited to NEC 230 Services.
- Lighting rough-in, including required exit and egress lighting fixtures, but excluding other fixtures.
- Repair/replacement of drywall, plaster, or masonry walls, excluding finishes.
- Interior improvements needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) for the intended use, or a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:
- Eligible Accessibility Improvements
- Interior improvements needed to meet the accessibility requirements of Chapter 11 of the Ohio Building Code, including:
- Restrooms, excluding fixtures and finishes, except OBC required accessible toilet and sink
- Accessible Route compliance.
- Interior improvements needed to meet the accessibility requirements of Chapter 11 of the Ohio Building Code, including:
- Eligible Fire Code Improvements
- Fire and smoke protection systems and features needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code for the intended use, or at a minimum a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:
- Sprinkler System
- Fire Rated Walls
- Stairway Enclosure
- Fire Alarm System.
- Fire and smoke protection systems and features needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code for the intended use, or at a minimum a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:
Eligible Projects
Eligible projects must:
- Comprehensively address all necessary code upgrades
- Result in a certificate of occupancy or certificate of completion
- Be complete by December 2, 2024
Completed units must have a tenant identified or be actively marketed for commercial or industrial use. Occupying businesses must be registered with the City of Toledo.
Eligible Buildings
A building may be eligible for more than one grant if the building contains multiple vacant first-floor commercial spaces, each to be occupied by separate businesses.
Eligible buildings must:
- Be located in the City of Toledo
- Contain a vacant first-floor commercial space
- Have no active code violation citations
Eligible building uses include:
- Commercial use (non-residential)
- Industrial use
- Mixed-use (integrated first-floor commercial and upper floor residential uses).
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Applicant is in good standing with governmental entities (i.e. current income taxes, property tax, utilities, fees, and have no active code violation citations).
- Applicant owns the building for which they are applying.
For more information, visit City of Toledo.
