Show All Answers

1. What is the Commercial Facade Grant Program?

The purpose of the Commercial Façade Building Materials Grant Program is to enhance and revitalize the aesthetics of Green Bay’s commercial districts by providing a financial incentive for businesses to invest in their property. The Program aims to address deteriorating property conditions and encourage enhancements to the property as viewed from the public right of way as a means to generate economic development for Green Bay’s business districts. The amount of grant dollars awarded are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the amount of funds available and the project's overall impact.

2. Who is eligible for the program?

Any commercial building owner or tenant (business owner) with lease authority and approval of the owner may apply for Facade Grant funds. The commercial building must be located within a Facade Grant Eligible Area. Please contact the City's Department of Community & Economic Development to determine if your property is located within an eligible area.

Project must satisfy a National Objective for Community Development Block Grant Funding as defined by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (either job creation or blight elimination). Owner cannot be delinquent on any current City charges, taxes, or assessments or have defaulted on any previous city assistance.

3. What types of improvements are eligible?

Eligible improvements include:

• Restoration of masonry, brick, wood, and glass;
• Restoration/preservation of historical or architecturally significant features
• Storefront redesign and reconstruction
• Murals and permanent art fixtures
• Exterior lighting enhancements
• Awnings
• Other approved visual enhancement of a property as it relates to a public right-of-way or visible from a public vantage point.

4. What improvements are not eligible?

The following improvements are not eligible for the program:

• Building Expansion
• Interior Renovations
• New Construction
• Property Acquisition
• Roofing Repairs
• Street Furniture, Sidewalks, and Other Public Amenities
• Temporary, Portable, or Non-Permanent Improvements
• Parking lots

5. Are there design guidelines I must follow?

All projects must be reviewed and receive approval by the Design Review Team and the Redevelopment Authority prior to allocation of any funds. Proposed building materials shall be especially durable, be of higher quality, and compliment the aesthetics of the surrounding neighborhood or district.

6. What other requirements are there?

All projects receiving Commercial Facade Grant dollars must comply with the following requirements:

• Project must be located in a Façade Grant Eligible Area
• Enhancements must be clearly visible from the public right-of-way
• Project must result in visible improvement of overall facade
• Projects must begin within 3 months of the grant award
• Projects must be completed 9 months after the project start date

7. What is the application process?

The application process is as follows:

1. Meet with Economic Development Staff to discuss your project, review your preliminary designs and discuss timelines.
2. Finalize project plans and obtain cost estimates for each eligible building material.
3. Submit a completed Facade Grant application (PDF) to the Community & Economic Development Department at 100 N Jefferson Street, Room 608, Green Bay, WI 54301.
4. The Economic Development staff will review applications and will select projects to refer to the Design Review Team.
5. The Design Review Team will score the application and provide a recommendation to the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) for final approval.
6. The RDA will vote to approve or deny the application at their monthly meeting, which typically occurs on the second Tuesday of every month.

8. Who should I contact for more information?

Contact the Community & Economic Development Department for more information:
100 N Jefferson Street
Room 608
Green Bay, WI 54301
Phone: 920 448 3400