Downtown Façade Grant Opportunity

Boyne City Main Street Façade Grant Guidelines

Please click HERE for an application.

PURPOSE:

This program is designed to encourage private investment for the rehabilitation and improvement of facades within the Boyne City Main Street District. We hope to encourage good design that will serve as quality examples for others and to preserve the architectural character that is distinctive to Boyne City.

DESCRIPTION:

This is a competitive grant program that provides for the reimbursement of funds for façade improvements within the Main Street District, totaling $20,000 in any one grant period. For every dollar awarded, the applicant must spend an equal amount. Individual grant amounts will be up to 50 percent of project cost. There is no set minimum or maximum number of projects per year.

This program is funded by Boyne City Main Street. Recommendations for funding the grant applications will be made by the Design Committee to the Main Street Board, which will make all final grant-funding decisions.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS/AREA:

Property owners or leaseholders of all commercial or mixed-use buildings within the Downtown Development Authority Area are eligible to apply. In the case where a leaseholder applies, they must submit a notarized letter of permission from the property owner with their application. Preference may be given to new applicants who have not received grant funding from the program. Priority may be given to historic buildings.

All applicants must be in good standing with the City of Boyne City, which includes being current with all fees, permits and taxes.

ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS:

Eligible items include, but are not limited to:

• Removal of siding that was used to cover original building materials
• Exterior brick or wall surface repair
• Pointing of brick/mortar joint repair
• Window and/or door replacement/repair
• Any architectural details in need of repair and/or replacement
• Ineligible expenses include signage, and reimbursement for work that has already been completed

All grant-funded improvements must be permanent and must meet all State, County and Local code requirements. Improvements, where applicable, should follow the Boyne City Main Street Design Guidelines, which are available on our website and in the office.

FUNDING GUIDELINES:

Projects must be completed within one year of the date the grant is awarded. If requested, extensions of grant funds may be considered for one additional year.

Improvements made through the Façade Grant Program must be maintained by the applicant.

No grant will be awarded until the project is 100% complete and all City approval processes completed (i.e., final inspection on all building permits and final inspection of grant work). For example, if the services of an architect are needed, reimbursement for architectural expenses will be paid to the applicant at the end of the project as part of the total grant award.

APPLICATION/AWARD PROCESS:

1. Meet with the Main Street Executive Director and/or Design Committee representative to explain the scope of the project.
2. Complete a grant application and submit to the Main Street office by Wednesday, May 1, 2024. All applications must include design plans and estimates for the proposed work. A detailed description of the work to be completed along with building photos showing the areas where the work will be done must be submitted.
3. Applications will be reviewed by the Main Street Design Committee, which serves as the grant review committee. The final grant decision will be made by the Boyne City Main Street Board.
4. When the project is completed and “Before” and “After” pictures are submitted, Main Street staff will verify work has been completed as specified in the grant application.
5. The applicant must then submit copies of invoices, receipts, and an itemized statement of the total cost of the project and signed-off on by the applicant. All documentation for payment must be provided at one time to the Boyne City Main Street for one payout. After receipt and verification of the information, the Boyne City Main Street will release the grant money to the applicant.
6. Incomplete requests, as detailed above, for reimbursement will not be accepted.

AMENDMENTS:

The details of the Boyne City Main Street Façade Grant Program may be amended subject to the formal approval of the Boyne City Main Street Board.

Contact Information

For questions or to apply for the Façade Grant Program, please email mainstreet@boynecity.com