Decatur offers grants to help businesses improve storefronts

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The City of Decatur is offering grants to help businesses improve the appearance of their buildings.

The city offers a business facade improvement program to eligible businesses and property owners to improve the appearance of their building and enhance the surrounding area.

The program offers a repayment matching grant of up to $25,000 with a minimum project cost of $5,000.

According to the city, an eligible facade is the front face or elevation of a building, which usually faces the street and has windows and the main entrance to a building.

Eligible work includes facade renovation, landscaping, and repair or install of storefront windows, awnings, doors, signs, exterior lighting and parking lots.

According to the City of Decatur website, better aesthetics increase property values, improve the marketability of space within the buildings and draws business and residents to the area.

To be eligible for consideration, the business needs to be located in a federally designated low or moderate income community.

More information on the program and grant applications can be found on the City of Decatur website.

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