Program to give small Detroit neighborhood businesses help with facade improvements

Kat Stafford | Detroit Free Press

A new program aimed at helping existing Detroit neighborhood businesses who weathered the city's hard hit economy was announced Wednesday by Mayor Mike Duggan and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.

Motor City Re-Store is an offshoot companion program to the Motor City Match and will provide up to $500,000 every three months in matching grants to existing business owners and their landlords for facade and other exterior improvements.

The Motor City Match gives $500,000 every quarter to startups and businesses expanding to new locations in the city.

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Duggan said the program was launched after the city received feedback from longtime business owners who inquired if they could receive funds from the city for small projects or improvements.

"They're always asking, 'What about the neighborhoods,'" Duggan said Wednesday at a news conference announcing the program. "What about those of us who are already here? ... So this is a big part of our vision (for the city.)"

According to Duggan, applications for the program will be accepted starting Thursday and the first awards will be announced this fall.

Officials said the program is designed to give business owners and commercial landlords a chance to improve the appearance of their building.

The matching grants will also available for design and architectural services for exterior projects, Duggan said.

The program will be funded through a combination of Community Development Block Grant funds and other sources, officials said.

The program will be managed by the small business team at the DEGC.

Applications for Round 1 will be accepted through Aug. 1. Business owners and landlords must apply jointly for 50% matching grants up to $25,000.

Multiple businesses applying as a group are eligible for 75% matching grants and up to 20 matching grants are expected to be awarded each quarter.

A new round of applications opening on the first day of September, December, March, and June.

Facade improvements for local businesses is an issue the city has tackled previously, along with a number of non-profits and neighborhood associations.

Midtown Detroit Inc., has operated a façade improvement program in the city for several years and in the past, the organization has also given grant money to homeowners for facade improvements.

Facelift Detroit, a non-profit organization, has also operated a similar improvement program and focuses on the city's blight issues, according to its website. Neighborhood organizations such as the Eight Mile Boulevard Association have also launched successful facade programs as well.

Contact Katrease Stafford: kstafford@freepress.com or 313-223-4759.