Storefront Improvement Grant

Storefront Improvement Grant is sponsored by City of Milwaukie. This grant assists businesses with storefront improvements in Milwaukie.

City of Milwaukie Oregon Official Website Business Improvement Grants The City of Milwaukie has two revenue streams that make the business improvement grants possible, Urban Renewal and the Construction Excise Tax (CET) . Each fund is tied to specific geographic eligibility (see map below).

Downtown and Central Milwaukie businesses are eligible for urban renewal grants, while the rest of Milwaukie’s commercial hubs can apply to the CET grants. All programs are implemented on a first come, first served basis. 1.

STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM ($25,000 Maximum Grant) Purpose: Enhance the aesthetic appearance and facade of buildings. Eligible Applicants: Property owners or tenants (with owner approval). Eligible Activities: Improvements that improve the appearance and functionality of the ground floor retail/commercial space.

Examples: windows, entrances, transoms, awnings, signs, building rehabilitation, paint, siding, and similar upgrades. Requires a 50% financial match of the construction cost. Downtown & Central Milwaukie Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria 2.

TENANT IMPROVEMENT GRANT PROGRAM ($25,000 Maximum Grant) Purpose: Improving the interior of a building to meet various code requirements. Eligible Applicants: Property owners or tenants (with owner approval). Eligible Activities: Interior improvements that are intended to expand or upgrade the ground floor tenant space.

This program is restricted to restaurants, curated retail and other similar uses that generate foot traffic.

Examples of improvements: new kitchen equipment (in the case of restaurants) or other improvements intended to accommodate desired uses, including cost of improvements required by code, such as grease traps, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to restrooms and exiting, etc. Requires a 50% financial match of the construction cost.

Downtown & Central Milwaukie Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria 3.

PRE-DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE GRANT PROGRAM ($50,000 Max Grant) Purpose: Intended to provide funding for a wide variety of professional studies, which the city deems likely to support and spur new development (either new construction or major rehabilitation) that advances the aspirations for the downtown core and urban renewal area as expressed in the Urban Renewal Plan.

Eligible Applicants: Property owners, as well as prospective owners or developers who can demonstrate that they are in a position to own the property in question. Eligible Activities: Any technical studies and services that assist in the possible redevelopment of a property. Requires a 50% financial match of the product cost.

The Milwaukie Redevelopment Commission will own the work that it funds and may opt to share it with other parties. Downtown & Central Milwaukie Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria 4. COMMUNITY PLACEMAKING GRANT PROGRAM ($10,000 Max Grant) Purpose: Activate and beautify underutilized spaces and places.

Eligible Applicants: Non-profits, community organizations, individuals, and property owners in commercial areas. Eligible Activities: Art installations, streetscape beautification, pop-up plazas, tactical urbanism projects, and similar uses that enhance, beautify, or activate commercial areas. Requires a 25% financial match of the project cost.

Downtown & Central Milwaukie Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria 5. BUSINESS CONSULTING & SUPPORT SERVICES ($2,500 Maximum - Service Based) Purpose: In an attempt to prevent displacing existing businesses, this program offers professional consulting services that are intended to help businesses stay competitive and relevant in today’s market.

It is also intended for those businesses who are not ready or lack the means to pursue the other programs listed above. Eligible Applicants: Business owners who have been operating for at least two years. Eligible Activities: Consulting services related to interior and exterior design planning, merchandising, branding, displays and similar related effects.

No match required. This program provides free professional consulting services up to a certain hourly rate.

Downtown & Central Milwaukie Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria Program Overview, Eligibility, and Criteria PLEASE NOTE: In addition to meeting the grant program’s eligibility requirements, applicants may also need to secure other prerequisites including, but not limited to, additional authorizations, permits, access rights, insurance, etc., in order to receive grant funding and complete their project.

To ensure timely processing of applications, applicants are encouraged to identify and consider such requirements prior to application submittal. The award of grant funding does not include, authorize, issue, or otherwise approve any such requirements.