Information Meetings:
The City of Crisfield Façade Improvement Program will be holding two information sessions at the Corbin Studio & Gallery (4 E. Main St., Crisfield, MD) for all businesses in the Crisfield community who intend on applying for funding through this grant.
The two meetings will be taking place, one February 15, 2024 at 5:30pm, and one February 22, 2024 at 10:00 am. Business owners MUST attend at least one of these meetings in order to apply for Façade Improvement Program grant funding. Business owners can send a representative on their behalf if they cannot attend personally.
When are applications for the Facades Grant available?
Applications will be available from February 1-March 14, 2024. Applications will be posted on the City of Crisfield’s website: cityofcrisfield-md.gov and once completed, need to be sent to Heather Ross at: hross@crisfieldcityhall.com by 4:00pm on March 14, 2024
What is the City of Crisfield Façade Improvement Program?
The goal of the Façade Improvement Program in Crisfield, Maryland’s “Sustainable Community” is to make revitalization efforts by local businesses affordable, creative, and community-based while leveraging private improvements. The program is currently designed to offer grants to commercial property owners in Crisfield to assist them with exterior façade improvements to their business properties. Currently there is available funding of $75,000 from the Department of Housing and Community Development Community Legacy Grant. Funds must be matched dollar for dollar with the equity of the business property, so for every dollar of grant money that is awarded, the applicant must secure either a 5-year forgivable lien against their property or match the funds with private funding with no lien required. Applications can be for up to $15,000.00. The City’s goal is to fund at least five businesses. If more applications are received than may be funded, these applications will be used as references in future Community Legacy grant applications to show the need for additional funding for the program in our town. We hope to continue this program on an annual basis since currently 13 Crisfield businesses have successfully used these funds to improve their commercial properties since 2019.
The Façade Improvement Program is administered by the Façade Review Committee with program oversight by the City of Crisfield Circuit Rider and Grant Specialist, Heather Ross. The Committee is made up of representatives from the City of Crisfield, the Crisfield Chamber of Commerce, the Crisfield Arts & Entertainment District and the Crisfield community.
The business façade grants will be offered with a well-publicized application deadline (March 14, 2024). After that, the grant will be offered on an ongoing basis as funding permits. The award amount is based on available funds, applicants, and other variables. Business Façade grants are awarded based on a points system.
Who can apply for business funding?
Any building owner or store proprietor/tenant with lease authority or authorization from the owner can apply for funding. New property owners and new business tenants are encouraged to apply. To qualify for the business funds, properties must be commercial and located within our Sustainable Community boundaries, which generally fall within the town limits of the City of Crisfield and will be verified. Buildings within the Historic District and Arts and Entertainment District are awarded more points in the review process. Properties cannot be vacant and tenants must have a minimum of two years remaining on their lease or an option to renew.
What types of improvements are eligible for façade funding?
New this year, all of the awarded funds must be spent on the exterior façade of the building to make the outside appearance more attractive. This may include the following:
∙ Exterior cleaning and/or paint removal and painting
∙ Masonry repair and repointing
∙ Repair or removal and replacement of architectural details or materials
∙ Window and door repair or replacement
∙ Rehabilitation or compatible reconstruction of storefronts
∙ Removal of metal siding and exterior slip covers (surfaces), in some cases replacement of siding
∙ Restoration or replacement of deteriorated or hazardous walkways – new ones must be ADA compliant and not the sole
∙ Repair and/or replacement of signage
∙ Εxterior lighting
∙ Rehabilitation of existing awnings and/or new awnings
∙ Murals
- Repairs and/or installation of new roofs
Projects must be visible from the public way. In some cases, the side and rear views are eligible for improvements funded by this grant. Projects should prioritize aesthetic improvements over routine maintenance.
