City of Kenai Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Grant Program

The Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program makes matching funds available to local businesses to improve the appearance of commercial buildings, parking, landscaping, and signage by providing a 50% reimbursement, up to $10,000 for each approved project for eligible expenses on eligible projects to businesses located in the City of Kenai.

Donor Name: City of Kenai

State: Alaska

City: Kenai

Borough: Kenai Peninsula

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 06/16/2023

Size of the Grant: Up to $10,000

Grant Duration: 5 years

Details:

Improved storefront and streetscapes have a measurable impact on business sales and ability to attract new customers as well as improves community pride, and is an investment that provides benefits to businesses, residents, and visitors. The City of Kenai encourages property owners and tenants to invest in exterior renovations to commercial storefronts and streetscapes by providing matching funds to cover a portion of the eligible costs.

Program Objectives

To encourage and motivate local business improvements and reinvestments in the City of Kenai by sharing the costs of storefront and streetscape improvement projects to strengthen the business activity and enhance economic vitality in Kenai.

The Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program meets several goals and objectives of City of Kenai’s Imagine Kenai 2030 Comprehensive Plan, including:

Implement business-friendly regulations, taxation and incentives to create a stable positive climate for private investment
Promote adaptive reuse of vacant commercial buildings in the city center and along Kenai Spur Highway
Support development at emerging community centers that lie outside the major employment centers but provide a mix of retail, service, and residential uses.

Funding Information

Grant amount: Up to $10,000
You may apply more than once as long as the building or property site does not exceed the maximum grant amount in a 5-year period.

Eligible Improvements

An eligible project includes any of the following improvements that are visible from a public
street or right-of-way:
- Exterior façade improvements or repairs include, but are not limited to windows/doors,
  painting, architectural details, cladding/siding, awnings/canopies, outdoor lighting, art
  and permanent signage
- Installing landscaping or other streetscape improvements. Standalone streetscape
  improvement projects such as parking lot resurfacing/restriping must provide landscaping
  that meets the requirements of KMC Chapter 14.25 Landscaping/Site Plan Regulations
- Installing new accessibility features such as ramps or handrails
  Improvements/Repairs to bring nonconforming signage, site plan/landscaping into
  conformance with current Kenai Municipal Code
Other eligible work that may be reimbursed through the program includes construction, materials and labor. Work must be performed or overseen by a licensed general or specialty contractor with a valid State of Alaska business license and Kenai Peninsula Borough Sales Tax Certificate. If you wish to do the work yourself (no contractor) then only the cost of the materials is eligible for the grant. Eligible work may include, but is not limited to the following:
- contracted labor
- new paint
- adding new or replacing existing windows or doors
- electrical and light fixtures
- directional signage
- permanent outdoor dining area
- paving
- hardscaping
- canopies, awning and/or shade structures
- bike racks and/or benches
- planter boxes.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply to the Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Grant, you must be the property owner(s) or business lessee (with written property owner authorization).
Businesses is/are locally owned and/or operated local franchises in City of Kenai
Project is located within a commercial or mixed-use zoning district
Project will support an existing commercial structure(s) (e.g., home-based businesses do not qualify) that was/were constructed at least five (5) years ago
Project includes at least one eligible improvement (see Eligible Improvements)
Storefront must be visible from a public street (i.e., street-facing)
Construction work has not started
Building(s) with existing or proposed window(s) will have clear, unobscured street facing window(s) once construction is complete and for the five (5) year maintenance period
- Window tints, vinyl wraps, tinted or frosted glass, large window decals, and window perforations that obscure views in and out of the building may not cover more than 50% of any one window panel and no more than 10% of the square footage of windows on the street-facing façade(s)
Grant the City permission to use any image (photographs and/or video) for use in media publications including, but not limited to, email blasts, newsletters, magazines, general publications, website and/or affiliates, or videos
Be current on all financial obligations to the City of Kenai and Kenai Peninsula Borough.