Milwaukie is partnering with Metro to provide a pilot program that makes a total of $50,000 available to downtown businesses and property owners as matching grants to help pay for building improvements that make downtown Milwaukie a more attractive, pleasant and vibrant place.
“Sometimes small moves are the difference between a good retail environment and a great retail environment,” Milwaukie Community Development Director Kenny Asher said.
Furthermore, Metro is offering preliminary design services for the first few promising projects. Metro has contracted with Emerick Architects, which is widely regarded as local experts in storefront improvements and has extensive experience assisting businesses participating in facade improvement programs, to provide these services.
Earlier this year the City conducted a survey to gauge interest and to help shape the program. Staff was excited to learn that every respondent said such a grant program would encourage investment in their properties.
“For a small business, a grant program like this makes a huge difference in the decision-making,” Asher said. “It’s often the reason that business and property owners finally pull the trigger on projects they’ve been thinking about for a while.”
The maximum individual grant will be $10,000 and will pay for up to one-half of total out-of pocket project costs. Eligible activities are the rehabilitation of building facades visible to the street including but not limited to storefronts, doors and windows, cornices, gutters and downspouts, signs and graphics, exterior lighting, canopies and awnings, painting and masonry cleaning, and new wall surfaces. Permit and design costs are eligible expenses. Applications must be submitted by June 8, 2011 in order to be considered in the first round.
“It’s intended to be a really easy application process,” Asher said. “The businesses should be able to accomplish what they want, with minimal oversight from Milwaukie’s Design and Landmarks Committee.”
Program details and an application form are available here.
