The Economic Development Corporation (EDC) of Wayne County has launched the READI Downtown Revitalization Grant Program, a competitive funding initiative aimed at driving commercial redevelopment, housing creation, and private investment across Wayne County’s downtown districts.
Donor Name: Economic Development Corporation
State: Indiana
County: Wayne County (IN)
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 07/27/2026
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Downtown Revitalization Program offers financial assistance, in the form of a matching grant to retail or commercial property owners seeking to rehabilitate retail or commercial building space. Several key goals of the Downtown Revitalization Program are:
- To strengthen Wayne County’s retail and commercial base of its downtowns.
- To encourage and incentivize second-story residential development in downtowns.
- To provide opportunities for owners to participate in the revitalization of their properties by stimulating private investment in Wayne County.
- To generate additional revitalization by focusing the investment on improvements visible to customers, neighboring merchants, and residents.
- To increase business by making downtown living spaces and individual businesses more attractive.
- To increase property values, increase the profile and density and increase patronization of Wayne County downtowns.
Funding Information
Applicants may request up to $200,000.
Eligible Improvements
- Eligible Exterior Façade Improvements
- Materials, labor, equipment, and architectural/engineering design services, for exterior improvements to the front, rear or sides of buildings are eligible.
- Eligible improvements include, but are not limited to:
- Doors and/or entry Replacement
- Masonry Cleaning/Restoration
- Storefront Redesign/Construction
- Carpentry and Painting
- Window Replacement/Restoration
- Roof Repair/Replacement
- New construction/expansion of existing building area
- Signs used for advertising.
- Repairs to existing wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business.
- Eligible Interior Improvements
- Eligible interior improvements include, but are not limited to:
- Environmental Remediation (Lead Abatement/Asbestos Abatement, etc.)
- Upgrades to Electrical Wiring
- Upgrades to HVAC Systems
- Upgrades to Plumbing Systems
- Upgrades to elevator and sprinkler systems
- Eligible interior improvements include, but are not limited to:
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to fund their share of the project.
- Property must be free from any judgment liens and all mortgage and tax obligations must be current.
- Resolution of any open code violations or unsafe building orders must be resolved prior to application or be included as part of the applicant’s Downtown Revitalization grant application.
- The property owner must have current occupancy permits on file with the appropriate municipality, if applicable, or be included as part of the Downtown Revitalization grant application.
- The Program is open to all retail and commercial, for-profit businesses, and property tax paying nonprofits located in a Wayne County Downtown district and meet Indiana Building Code Building Classification.
- Proposed property must be zoned properly.
- Only an individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application. This includes: owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property.
- The property owner must provide a copy of the building insurance.
For more information, visit EDC.
