Downtown Spokane Partnership today announced the availability of matching grants to support Spokane businesses located in the Downtown Spokane Business Improvement District (BID) to enhance and repair storefront façades and improve their property visible from the street, the sidewalk experience and appearance of downtown.

The grant program will provide up to $30,0000 in grants to eligible businesses to invest in renovating or repairing the street-front exteriors of their properties. The Downtown Façade Improvement Grant will reimburse up to 50 percent of total project costs, up to $2,500.

Grants are made possible with support of BECU Philanthropy and facilitated by the Downtown Spokane Partnership. Eligible businesses can apply from April 3 through June 2, 2023. Funds will be awarded based on a competitive independent committee review..

Grant awards are intended to improve the aesthetic of downtown by helping business owners upgrade, repair, or address safety needs that may have gone unaddressed due to prioritization of available funding.

“Providing resources for façade improvements creates new opportunities for downtown businesses to better the experience for their customers while also helping to improve safety in the area,” said Emilie Cameron, President and CEO of the Downtown Spokane Partnership. “We are very excited to partner with BECU Philanthropy to be able to launch this program and look forward to working with downtown businesses to put the money to work for them.”

Façade improvements may include (but are not limited to): improvements to signage, building entrances, doors and windows, painting, lighting, landscaping, fencing and/or artwork. All work performed under the provisions of this program shall meet all applicable development standards in the City’s adopted zoning, building and safety codes.

Eligibility

• Any property owner or tenant of a commercial or industrial building located within the boundary of the Downtown BID.
• All interested applicants must first request, and participate in, a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) assessment of their property or façade.
• Projects are for work done to the exterior of the site only; interior work or projects are not eligible.

Applications and criteria are available online at www.downtownspokane.org/facade-grant.