The Garfield River to Rail Neighborhood District is excited to offer four grant opportunities to help create a vibrant downtown business district. This grant program is specifically available to businesses in the Passaic Street River To Rail Neighborhood District.
Donor Name: City of Garfield
State: New Jersey
City: Garfield
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/15/2023
Size of the Grant:
- Commercial/Mixed Use Rehabilitation Grant: $10,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use Materials Grant: $1,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use Visual Merchandising Grant: $1,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use ADA Access Grant: $1,000
Details:
The “Garfield River to Rail” Neighborhood District Commercial Rehabilitation Enhancement Grant Program seeks to foster a critical mass of visible and tangible change in the River to Rail Neighborhood District’s mixed-use commercial core. The larger goal driving this approach is to catalyze revitalization and attract new investment into the River to Rail District.
A healthy and vibrant commercial area is a critical component of River to Rail District’s economic well-being and quality of life. Within the District, attractive building facades support and encourage local businesses. They can have a significant effect on the attractiveness and marketability of the surrounding area. To encourage business owners to reinvest in the “River to Rail” District, Garfield and community partner Greater Bergen Community Action, Inc. (GBCA), is offering grants to assist in the exterior renovations of these otherwise sound and vital properties.
The Garfield River to Rail Commercial Rehabilitation Enhancement Program is intended to leverage Garfield’s resources to spur private investment in the River to Rail District commercial business district; to improve the commercial vitality of that district; and to increase the quality of life of residents from all walks of life in the district’s surrounding neighborhoods.
Grant Categories
Building and business owners will be eligible for the following four categories of grant funding:
- Commercial/Mixed Use Rehabilitation Grant
- Use: Storefront and façade improvements
- Commercial/Mixed Use Materials Grant
- Use: For materials procured for less complicated storefront improvements (i.e. paint, primer, brushes, new doors, windows, lights, and signage). No labor costs will be covered.
- Commercial/Mixed Use Visual Merchandising Grant
- Use: For materials to enhance the exterior visual merchandising of business storefronts (seasonal displays, enhanced lighting, transparent glass, signage, art elements).
- Commercial/Mixed Use ADA Access Grant
- Use: For costs associated with removing barriers and upgrading storefronts to become Americans with Disabilities Act compliant (i.e. entrance step, installing ramp, widening door width).
Funding Information
- Commercial/Mixed Use Rehabilitation Grant: $10,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use Materials Grant: $1,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use Visual Merchandising Grant: $1,000
- Commercial/Mixed Use ADA Access Grant: $1,000
Eligible Cost
Grants may be used for comprehensively restoring or substantially beautifying or enhancing the publicly-visible storefront or entire façade or elevation of a commercial building.
- Eligible items include uncovering and restoring historical facades and storefronts, removing existing damaged or poor-quality façade materials and replacing them with more appropriate and attractive designs and materials, and other detailing which leads to a substantially enhance appearance.
- The following may be funded as part of a more comprehensive façade improvement: windows, doors, exterior cleaning, tuck-pointing, painting, exterior lighting, shutters, gutters, and historical architectural elements.
- Signage (both projecting and sign bands) and awnings that meet the Neighborhood Preservation
- Program District design guidelines are also eligible for funding.
- The program will fund projects that significantly improve the visual appearance of the property from the street.
Eligibility Criteria
Building and Business owners with property within the “River to Rail” Neighborhood boundaries may be eligible if:
- Property owned is a commercial/mixed-use structure that is used in whole or part for service or commercial activities.
- Tenant of commercial/mixed-use structure that is used in whole or part for service or commercial activities has lease of more than one year in length.
- Projects must follow the Neighborhood Preservation Program (NPP) Storefront and Façade Design Guidelines and must not be started until after receiving necessary approvals.
For more information, visit City of Garfield.
