Historic Downtown Façade Improvement Grant Program

The City of Coffeyville recognizes the positive impact individual façade improvements can have on the overall appearance, quality and vitality of the City’s Historic Downtown.   The Façade Improvement Program is in keeping with the economic development strategies outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan 2030.

The Façade Improvement Program is designed to facilitate private sector investment in making these desired exterior improvements.  The Façade Improvement Program offers financial assistance, in the form of a matching grant up to $5,000.00 to retail or commercial property owners or business owners seeking to rehabilitate retail or commercial building facades in the City’s Historic Downtown.  Several key goals of the Façade Improvement Program are:

• To strengthen the Coffeyville’s retail and commercial base of the Historic Downtown.
• To improve the architectural and aesthetic appearance of the City’s Historic Downtown.
• To provide opportunities for owners and tenants to participate in the revitalization of their properties by stimulating private investment in the City’s Historic Downtown.
• To generate additional revitalization by focusing the investment on improvements visible to customers, neighboring merchants, and residents.
• To increase business by making Historic Downtown and individual businesses more attractive.

Eligibility

• Applicants must demonstrate the capacity to fund their share of the project.
• Property must be free from any judgement liens and all mortgage and tax obligations must be current.
• The property owner and all tenants must have current occupancy permits on file with City Hall.
• The Program is open to all retail and commercial businesses within Coffeyville’s Historic Downtown area.
• Purposed property in Coffeyville’s Historic Downtown must be zoned properly. 
• Only an individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application.   This includes: a tenant, owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property.  If the applicant does not own the property, but is a tenant of the property, the tenant must have the permission of the property owner in writing.
• The property owner must demonstrate approval of tenant alterations.
• The property must not have received a Façade Improvement Program grant prior. 
• The property owner must provide a copy of the building insurance. 

Façade Improvement Program Guidelines

1. Façade Improvement grants will be made on a “first come first served” basis and there are limited funds available each year of the program.
2. Façade Improvement grants will be paid on a reimbursement basis only.
3. Façade Improvement grant funds require a 50/50 match, and reimbursement will be half of the Façade Improvement costs  or $5,000.00 , whichever is less.  The Façade Improvement grants must be matched dollar for dollar by the building owner or business.  Façade Improvement grant assistance is provided for permanent building and site improvements only. 
4. Only an individual or business having a legal interest in the subject property may make an application.   This includes: a tenant, owner of the property, or an individual or entity holding a fully executed contract to purchase the subject property.  If the applicant does not own the property, but is a tenant of the property, the tenant must have the permission of the property owner in writing.
5. An application for Façade grant assistance must be approved by the Director of Engineering prior to any work being started.
6. At the time of application, there shall be no taxes, fees or other debts owed to the City by the applicant and/building owner.
7. Façade grants will be for outside façade improvements only.  The business or building owner must match the City’s Façade grant with building improvements outside of the building.
8. The façade improvement must be completed within 12 months of being approved by the City Commission in order to be reimbursed.
9. Proceeds of the Façade grant shall not be used to: pay off or refinance existing debt, pay salaries or applicant’s officers or employees, pay for the purchase or down payment for real estate, or pay income, real estate or other taxes or assessments.
10. The City reserves the right to reject grant applications for assistance for buildings deemed beyond reasonable repair.
11. As a condition of the grant, the City may provide a building inspection team to determine the most urgent building needs.  This inspection report will be considered part of the grant application.  Previous Fire Department inspection reports will also be considered.
12. The application for grant assistance will be considered within 21 business days after submission of a completed application. 

Generally Eligible Façade Improvements 

• Exterior painting, re-siding, re-texturing, bricking, or professional cleaning
• Restoration of exterior finishes and materials
• Masonry repairs and tuck pointing
• Removal of architecturally inappropriate or incompatible exterior finishes and materials.
• Repair or replacement of windows and doors (if replacement, windows and doors must be architecturally appropriate).
• Window and cornice flashing and repair.
• Canopy or awning installation or repair.
• Exterior lighting.
• Landscaping.
• Security systems (including metal roll down grates, window bars, cameras)
• Trash and mechanical enclosures.

Note: the City may require building permits for some of the eligible improvements listed above.  It is critical that all businesses and building owners work with City Building Inspection Staff on design and obtain all necessary permits before beginning work.

Generally Ineligible Façade Improvements

• Improvements in progress initiated, or completed prior to application approval.
• Routine maintenance not part of an eligible façade improvement project.
• Billboards or wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business.
• Repairs to billboards or wall, window, hanging, and monument signs advertising the business.
• Roofing.
• Mechanicals and HVAC systems.
• New building construction.
• Pylon, temporary, or roof signs.
• Interior window displays.
• Labor performed by unlicensed contractor.
• Improvement to the building interior.
• Improvements to in-eligible establishments or those outside the designated Historic Downtown area.

Façade Improvement Program Application Process

1. Meet with the Director of Engineering, or such other person as the City Manager may designate, to determine whether the Façade Improvement grant is applicable to the project.
2. Turn in the completed   Façade Improvement Program application with all required attachments to the Director of Engineering, or such other person as the City Manager may designate.  Please include 8.5 x 11 copies of all drawings.  Copies of attachments and drawings, which are needed to secure a building permit from the City, are also acceptable.
3. Review of the project and Façade Improvement Program application to determine eligibility and the amount of grant assistance allowed within 21 business days of the submission of all required information.  The Director of Engineering may request additional information if he/she considers the information supplied by the applicant to be insufficient. Upon the submission of all required information, the applicant may be contacted to schedule a tour of the project site and building.  City inspection staff may be invited to come on the tour of the building.
4. Upon project completion (must be within 12 months of when the grant was approved), schedule a follow-up tour and submit actual project cost information (receipts), including copies of itemized invoices, receipts, and such other documentation as may be required by the Façade Improvement Program grant agreement.
5. Upon receipt of evidence documenting actual project costs, the City shall have 30 days to confirm that such project costs were so incurred.  Within 30 days after all the requirements set forth are met, the City shall issue a check for reimbursement of the costs incurred, up to the amount awarded.
6. The City Commission will review the status of the Façade Improvement Program grant once a year to determine if any changes in the guidelines are necessary.

 Applications are available in the Engineering Department at City Hall - 102 W. 7th

Note: Funding is limited.   Submission of an application does not guarantee funding.  The determination of eligibility and priority for assistance is at the discretion of the City’s Director of Engineering.