Downtown Bellingham
Storefront Improvement Grant
Application timeline:
Open Monday, April 22nd
Close Monday, May 20th
Recipients notified by end of May
Projects must be completed by October 31st, 2024
The Storefront Improvement Grant, managed by the Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) and funded by BECU, annually enhances the downtown economy by revitalizing street-level building façades to attract customers to downtown businesses. In 2024, the DBP is empowered to award up to $10,000 total for this program. As part of a comprehensive plan to stimulate economic development and historic preservation, the DBP provides design assistance and remodeling incentives to small businesses.
ABOUT THE GRANT:
2023 Recipients: Brazen Shop + Studio, The Bagelry, Bellingham BJJ, Fringe Boutique, and MW Soapworks
2022 Recipients: Stockton’s Paint, HOSA, Ragfinery
2021 Recipients: Make.Shift, Sojourn, The Wild Buffalo House of Music
The goal of the Storefront Improvement Grant is to help businesses achieve their vision for the front of their space. It is a competitive grant program to assist Downtown businesses and property owners with making improvements to their building facades, signage, and/or surroundings. Improvements can be to the exterior façade of the business, or to the interior that is closest to the window such as track lighting and signage.
This grant will fund or contribute to projects at a maximum of $2,000 for a single property. Projects are for work done to the exterior of the site only; interior work or projects are not eligible. Projects that will be mostly or fully funded by the grant will be prioritized. Selection is based on feasibility and positive impact.
The following factors are considered in evaluating impact:
Current condition of the building/façade
Impact on street design and neighboring businesses
Creative value of the project
Community need/demand for change
The selected business will receive two benefits:
A one-hour consultation upon request with members of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership Design Committee to assess needs and provide potential design improvements;
Funding for project costs, up to $2,000 per business. These funds cannot be used for installation labor or staff time.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Eligible applicants must be physically located within the Downtown Bellingham neighborhood. Awards shall be based on creativity, visual impact, degree of change between before and after, and level of contribution to neighboring properties and downtown revitalization.
Exclusions:
National franchises
Professional offices
Residential space
Government occupied spaces
Churches and other religious institutions
Projects already underway
Eligible improvements include:
Signage on windows/doors, or hanging from awning
Façade improvements
Windows and doors
Lighting
Paint
Landscaping, plants and containers
Tile or other decorative material
Creative and imaginative exterior elements