Indianapolis Facade Rebate Progam

A member of our staff, Amanda Gates, brought a wonderful program to my attention.  This program, the 2010 Commercial Facade Improvement Program, is a grant through the Fostering Commercial Urban Strategies (FOCUS) Initiative. 

This opportnity allows any business owner or tenant in the city of Indianapolis to apply for a grant to assist the funding for visible improvements to primary facades and primary building entrances.  These improvements include but are not limited to doors, windows, signs, awnings, and brick, stone, wood or other building surface material. 

This grant will potentially fund up to 50% of project costs up to a maximum grant of $20,000.  The application deadline for the first round is February 26th.

A facade grant selection committee will award projects with priority consideration to projects that will achieve the highest impact on: 1) the property being improved, 2) the block where the property is located, and 3) the neighborhood in which the property is located.  Preference will be given to businesses in the targeted Focus Commercial Corridors: Martin Luther King, Jr. Street, West Washington Street, Fountain Square area, East 10th Street, 16th Street, North Meridian Street and Irvington.

I have included a link to the program documents below.

Program Documents

This grant is like any other, it has requires paperwork filled out and guidelines followed, but the benefits far outweigh the costs.  It is refreshing to know that organizations like FOCUS are working diligently to improve the image and perception of Indianapolis. 

FOCUS is an innovative partnership between LISC, the Central Indiana Chamber of Commerce, the Indianapolis Coalition for Neighborhood Development and the City of Indianapolis. This city-wide collaboration is making changes in the planning, advocacy, and delivery of economic development projects. Through this partnership, the FOCUS initiative is creating vibrant neighborhood business districts and establishing long-lasting relationships that connect neighborhoods with businesses and new resources to revitalize urban markets. 

This is a fantastic initiative and I look forward to finding ways Sign Craft can increase our participation. I am excited about the potential opportunity to utilize our expertise in developing products that both enhance the aesthetics of the community and provide the advertising/identification needs of the business community.