Notice of Funding Availability

The City of Toledo, Department of Economic Development (DED) hereby announces the availability of $300,000 in funding for the White Box Grant Program. The program is designed to incentivize property owners to bring vacant commercial first-floor spaces up to current codes to create a functional "white box" space ready for customization and occupancy by a business.

The White Box Grant 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 Facade Improvement Grant Program. A Notice of Funding Availability for the Facade Improvement Grant can be found here. Eligible applicants may apply for both programs.

The White Box Grant reimburses 70% of the eligible interior renovation expenses required to meet current state and local building code, fire safety code, and accessibility requirements, as demonstrated by stamped architectural or engineering drawings. The minimum reimbursement is $25,000 and the maximum is $75,000.

Eligible projects comprehensively address code deficiencies and result in a certificate of occupancy. Projects must be complete, with final invoices submitted and certificate of occupancy received, by December 1, 2023. Building owners are required to occupy the space as a business owner or actively market the space for lease.

The program 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 prior to December 31, 2025.

The White Box Grant Program 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.

Download the full NOFA

Eligibility

Eligible projects shall:

• Comprehensively address all necessary code upgrades
• Result in a certificate of occupancy
• Be complete by December 1, 2023

To qualify for White Box Grant funding, all proposed work must be completed by December 1, 2023. Completed units must have a tenant identified, be occupied by the building owner, or be actively marketed for commercial or industrial use.

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 may be eligible for more than one grant if the building contains multiple vacant commercial spaces, each to be occupied by separate businesses. Eligible buildings must:

• Have no code violation citations
  
• Contain a first-floor commercial vacant space

Eligible building uses include:

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

Ineligible Buildings

Buildings with an exclusively single-family residential, multi-family residential, or storage 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

Eligible Expenses

The White Box Grant program provides funding to bring vacant commercial spaces up to code with the goal of receiving a certificate of occupancy. Eligible expenses address deficiencies in complying with building code, fire code, or accessibility requirements, as outlined below.

Eligible Building Code Improvements:
Interior improvements needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code (OBC) for the intended use, or at a minimum a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:

• Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) replacement or upgrades to meet the requirements of the OBC and the Ohio Mechanical Code for the intended use.
• Plumbing rough-in, to meet the requirements of the OBC and the Ohio Plumbing Code.
• Electrical services upgrades or modifications to meet the requirements of the OBC and the National Electrical Code, including, but not limited to NEC 230 Services.
• Lighting rough-in, including required exit and egress lighting fixtures, but excluding other fixtures.
• Repair or replacement of drywall, plaster or masonry walls, excluding finishes.

Eligible Accessibility Improvements:
Interior improvements needed to meet the accessibility requirements of Chapter 11 of the Ohio Building Code, including:

• Restrooms, excluding fixtures and finishes, except OBC required accessible toilet and sink.
• Accessible Route compliance.

Eligible Fire Code Improvements:
Fire and smoke protection systems and features needed to meet the requirements of the Ohio Building Code for the intended use, or at a minimum a Business (B) or Mercantile (M) use, including:

• Sprinkler System
• Fire Rated Walls
• Stairway Enclosure
• Fire Alarm System

All upgrades must comply with zoning and building codes. Any expense incurred prior to the execution of the White Box Grant agreement, or work performed without required permits, is ineligible. When system improvements benefit the entire building, any reimbursement will be for the prorated share of the first-floor vacant commercial space identified in the application, based on its percentage of the total building square footage.