To improve and maintain downtown Hamilton’s historic character and visual appeal, the Façade Improvement Grant (FIG) is intended to encourage the restoration and rehabilitation of eligible downtown properties.
Donor Name: Hamilton Downtown Foundation
State: Montana
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/18/2023
Size of the Grant: $7,500
Details:
Hamilton’s FIG program is a partnership between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA), and Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement District.
The Hamilton Downtown Foundation’s Façade Improvement Grant (FIG) program will be administered, including eligible applicants and activities, review process, and scoring criteria. Hamilton’s FIG program is a partnership between the City of Hamilton, Hamilton Downtown Association (HDA), and Downtown Hamilton Business Improvement District.
Eligible Activities
- Rehabilitation or compatible reconstruction of storefronts.
- Masonry repair and repainting.
- Mural installation, preservation of historic painted “ghost signs,” or paint removal.
- Repair and replacement of architectural details or materials, or of critical façade structural elements.
- Removal of non-historic elements from façades (metal siding, non-historical false façades, etc.).
- Removal of highly tinted windows and openings and/or installation of clear windows and openings.
- Window repair or replacement (removal of historic windows is not recommended).
- Awning or canopy repair, removal, or replacement.
- Store and restaurant signage (new signs or rehabilitation of historic signs), or removal of signage such as abandoned and non-contextual signs.
- Improvement to outdoor plazas or patios that serve as a public entrance to a commercial use.
- Any other improvement that is not an ineligible activity and is approved by the FIG Committee.
Funding Information
- Maximum funding per proposal: $7,500.
- Minimum required match by applicant: 1:1
- Exterior renovations shall, to the extent practical, preserve and promote historic architectural features of the building.
- All construction work shall comply with applicable laws, codes, and regulations for building and site development.
- Projects must begin within 6 months of grant approval and be completed within 1 year of grant approval unless the approval letter states otherwise or a written extension is granted by the FIG Committee.
Eligibility Criteria
Only properties located in Hamilton’s Historic Downtown Area are eligible for FIG funding. The Historic Downtown Area is defined in the City of Hamilton’s Building and Site Design Guidelines and is shown on the map. Building tenants may apply for FIG funding with approval of the building owner. The building owner must guarantee the grant.
Ineligible Activities
- Past or in-progress improvements.
- Interior rehabilitation unless it is essential to rehabilitate the building’s exterior façade.
- Interior decoration.
- Any project that would permanently remove all or portion of a historic building.
- Improvements to outdoor plazas or patios that do not serve as public entrance to a commercial use.
- Improvements to or provision of new off-street parking.
- General business operations or property expenses including payroll, taxes, utilities, etc.
- Any inventory or equipment for the operation of a business.
- Any payment or refinancing of property or business debt, or payment of liens, judgements or fines.
- “Sweat equity” or payment for applicant’s own labor.
For more information, visit Hamilton Downtown Foundation.
