The City of Newberry’s Downtown Façade Improvement Grant Program enlivens the built environment in the downtown core by significantly improving the appearance of buildings, adding value for downtown property owners and visitors.
Donor Name: City of Newberry
State: South Carolina
City: Newberry
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 10/31/2023
Size of the Grant: $9,000
Details:
The objective of the Facade Improvement Grant Program is to dramatically improve the facades of downtown buildings so that after completion of work, citizens will notice a marked improvement in the appearance of the buildings and the physical environment of downtown. The purpose of the program is to provide an economic incentive to:
- promote storefront rehabilitation in Newberry’s Historic Downtown area;
- preserve the unique character of downtown’s historic buildings;
- encourage aesthetic compatibility for improvements to facades of non-historic structures;
- encourage the use of quality materials in the rehabilitation of downtown properties; Façade improvements should be those that are permanent and part of the building.
Funding Information
Qualifying projects are eligible for a grant match of up to 90%, with a maximum grant award of $9,000. If an applicant’s project is exactly $10,000, they would qualify for a grant match of 90%, meaning the city would reimburse them $9,000 based on that expense. However, this does not mean projects are capped at $10,000, as applicants are encouraged to leverage their grant funds to get the most from their investment.
Grant Guidelines
- Must meet all City of Newberry Architectural Review Board’s guidelines and requirements.
- Rehabilitation work must conform to the City of Newberry’s Building Codes.
- Rehabilitation of structures in the downtown district should respect the architectural integrity of the entire building and retain those elements that enhance the building.
- Façade grant applications may be made for structures within the defined boundaries, with priority given to renovation projects that visibly improve downtown facades, including buildings with inappropriately applied facades that cover windows, or that are unsightly, out-of-scale, or in need of general repair work. Funds are made available periodically on a first-come-first-served basis and priority will only be taken into consideration should applications be submitted at the same time.
- All properties classified as business/commercial within one of the two Downtown historic district boundaries. (Main Street or Newberry Historic District) may apply for grant funds.
- Improvements may include, but are not limited to:
- Façade improvements
- Brick or wall surface cleaning
- Patching and painting of facade walls
- Signage or exterior lighting replacement/repair
- Structure or frame that contains or holds a sign
- Canopy, porch, awning installation/repair
- Window and/or door replacement/repair
- Mortar joint repair
- Railings, ironwork repair or addition
- Cornice repair and/or replacement Only established businesses (3+ years) are eligible for sign replacement
Eligibility Criteria
- Owner or tenant of a business/commercial building located within one of the two Downtown historic district boundaries. (Main Street or Newberry Historic District)
- Owners or tenants may request the incentive grant; however, any tenant must have the owner’s written permission attached to the application.
- If a property owner owns more than one building or facade in downtown, they will be eligible for only one grant per year as funds are limited.
- No more than one grant per location per year will be available.
- The property shall be classified as business/commercial.
- There must be no delinquent bills, business license, charges, or taxes due to the City
For more information, visit City of Newberry.
