Notice of Funding Availability

The City of Toledo, Department of Economic Development (DED) hereby announces the availability of $320,000 (Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars) in funding for the Facade Improvement Grant (FIG) program to incentivize property owners to comprehensively enhance the facade of commercial, industrial and mixed-use buildings.

The FIG program is part of the City’s Vibrancy Initiative, which is designed to enhance the city’s vitality by supporting revitalization efforts that will create jobs, reduce blight, and preserve and improve structures in our community. The Vibrancy Initiative also includes the White Box Grant Program. A Notice of Funding Availability for the White Box Grant can be found here. Eligible applicants may apply for both programs.

The FIG program reimburses 50% of eligible expenses incurred during a comprehensive facade improvement. A facade is defined as the principal face(s) of a building that is on a public street. The minimum reimbursement is $10,000 and the maximum is $40,000.

The grant is subject to a two-year period of compliance and reporting. The grant is collateralized by a restrictive covenant that prevents the sale of the property without approval from the City of Toledo until December 31, 2025.

The FIG application is open from April 3, 2023, to May 3, 2023. Applications will be reviewed and scored by the City’s Incentive Advisory Committee (IAC), using the Evaluation Criteria contained in this notice. The IAC consists of eight independent citizens that provide oversight of the City’s incentive programs. Upon completion of review, the IAC will recommend the top-scoring applications to the Mayor for funding until all funds have been awarded. The Mayor shall have the sole and absolute discretion to award funds.

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Eligibility

Eligible projects shall comprehensively address the improvement of the building’s facade and construction must be complete, with final paid invoices submitted, by December 1, 2023.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants, whether an individual or organization, must meet the following criteria:

• Applicant is in good standing with applicable governmental entities (i.e. current on federal, state and local income tax, property tax, utilities, code violations, fees);
• Applicant owns the building for which they are applying.*

*If the applicant does not own the building for which they are applying but does have the building under contract, the applicant is eligible to apply for the grant. However, grants will not be awarded until the applicant owns the building for which they are applying.

Eligible Buildings

A building's eligibility is determined by use, not zoning. Eligible buildings include:

• Commercial use (non-residential)
• Industrial use
• Mixed-use (integrated commercial and residential uses)

Eligible buildings must have no code violations. Buildings with vacancies are required to provide a marketing plan that demonstrates their intention to actively market the property for commercial, industrial, or mixed-uses, a letter of intent from a business to occupy the space, or a statement of self-occupancy by the building owner.

Ineligible Buildings

Buildings with an exclusively single-family residential or multi-family residential use or which contain the following businesses are ineligible:

• Payday loan businesses
• Liquor and tobacco stores
• Pawn shops
• Firearm or other weapons dealers
• Adult entertainment
• Franchise and chain businesses

A building may not receive more than one Facade Improvement Grant in its lifetime.

Eligible Expenses

The Facade Improvement Grant provides funding for a comprehensive enhancement to a building's facade. A facade is defined as the principal face(s) of a building that is on a public street. Eligible projects include replacement, repair, or addition of at least two of the expenses below.

Eligible expenses include:

• Building facing materials (such as brick, siding, or decorative features)
• Windows
• Doors
• Gutters and down spouts
• Stairs
• Ramps
• Sidewalks on private property
• Exterior lighting (including lighting directed on the building, but not attached to it)
• Exterior painting
• Awnings
• Canopies
• Non-commercial artist mural approved by The Arts Commission
• Walk-up service window
• Permanent patio or deck that complies with the City’s Outdoor Dining Guide and Encroachment Permit requirements
• Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design assessment recommendations for the building facade

Roofing expenses are non-reimbursable, but are eligible toward an applicant's match amount when accompanied by a comprehensive facade improvement, utilizing at least two of the expenses listed above to be eligible for the FIG.

Ineligible expenses include:

• Paving
• Landscaping
• Fencing (except for those on a permanent patio or deck)

All enhancements must be located on private property and comply with zoning and building codes to be eligible for the FIG. Any eligible expense incurred prior to the execution of the FIG Agreement, or work performed without required permits, is ineligible.