[Durham INC] Durham Seeks Grant Applicants for Signage, Building Improvements, Retail & Professional Services

Mon Mar 5 09:52:25 EST 2012

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

News Release

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov

For Immediate Release: March 5, 2012

Durham Seeks Grant Applicants for Signage, Building Improvements, and 

Retail & Professional Services

April 2nd Deadline to Submit Applications for Two Grant Opportunities; 

Public Information Session Set for March 14th  

DURHAM, N.C. - Business owners interested in making signage or building improvements in targeted areas inside the city limits should take note of three grant opportunities available through the City of Durham.

The City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development is now accepting applications for targeted areas inside the city limits for Sign and Façade Grants, formerly known as Sign Grants, as well as Building Improvement Grants, and Retail and Professional Services Grant, formerly known as the Merchandise-Based Incentive Grant Program.

Eligible projects will be considered for all three grant opportunities within the community development area outside of the Downtown Development Tier, including targeted corridors and projects within targeted areas in the urban growth area. The targeted corridors inside the community development area are Angier Avenue and Driver Street; West Chapel Hill Street; Mangum Street; Fayetteville Street; East Main Street; and Holloway Street. The targeted areas within the urban growth area are Wellon's Village, North Roxboro Road, and Avondale Drive. 

To assist applicants with identifying whether proposed projects are located within eligible geographic areas, a state-of-the-art mapping application has been developed by the City's Geographic Information Systems' Division. The application is available on the City's website at http://gisweb.durhamnc.gov/durhammaps/oewd/viewer/index.html.

Potential applicants interested in learning more about any of these grant opportunities, there will be a public information session on Wednesday, March 14, 2012, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Council Committee Room , located on the second floor of City Hall at 101 City Hall Plaza, Durham.  

Sign and Façade Grant

The Sign and Façade Grant's objective is to assist business owners and improve the pedestrian experience in select neighborhoods inside the city limits by enhancing the visibility and appearance of businesses through signage and façade improvements that are physically, historically, and architecturally compatible with relevant design guidelines. 

Signage improvements include costs related to the design, fabrication, refurbishment, and installation of signs.  Façade improvements must be made to the exterior of one or more sides of the building and/or property visible from a public street or municipal parking lot. At least 50 percent of façade improvements must be attributed to costs associated within the following categories: 1) restoration, repair, or replacement of windows, doors, exterior walls, chimneys, or other architectural elements; 2) exterior painting; 3) awnings, marquees, and related exterior lighting and electrical fixtures; 4) masonry repair and cleaning; 5) non-flat roof repair for portion noticeable from the public line of site; 6) exterior work necessary for conversion to a retail or entertainment storefront; 7) removal of modern façades, in order to restore back to vintage quality; 8) restoration of vintage elements; and 9) removal of deteriorated building materials, such as plywood or metal.

The maximum incentive per business or address shall not exceed $2,500 for the signage portion of the grant and $5,000 overall. In no case shall the incentive exceed 50 percent of the total project cost. Funds will be provided through reimbursement upon completion of the project and submission of appropriate documentation proving compliance with relevant design guidelines and costs. Sign and Façade Grant applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis with funding subject to availability; there is no deadline to apply for this particular grant. A decision as to funding will be made within 15 business days of the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development receiving a completed grant application. Information and guidance on signs may be found on the Durham City-County Inspections Department Web page at http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/cb/ccid/Pages/Signs.aspx. 

Building Improvement Grant

The Building Improvement Grant requires that eligible applicants own the building at the time of application and the project must be private property and non-residential. Capital investment improvements must be on an existing building having vacant spaces for the purpose of improving and/or upgrading the interior and exterior in order to make the first floor more rentable or "retail/restaurant-ready." Grant parameters include the following: 

·         If the project is within the community development area outside the Downtown Development Tier, the minimum total project capital investment must be at least $187,500.  

·         If the project is within a targeted portion of the urban growth area, the minimum total project capital investment must be at least $300,000.  

The deadline to apply for Building Improvement Grant is Monday, April 2, 2012, by noon. Funding requests of $50,000 or greater will be subject to City Council approval. Applicants requesting $50,000 or greater will be notified by Monday, May 7, 2012, as to whether the application will be recommended to City Council for approval. 

Retail and Professional Services Grant

In order to be eligible for the Retail and Professional Services Grant, the project property must be a street level, retail business, restaurant or a certain professional or personal services business such as a childcare center or beauty salon. The applicant must be the owner of the property or have a fully signed lease and a letter of approval from the property owner supporting the proposed improvements. The business must be open at least five days a week, eight hours a day. Organizations that are not eligible to apply are religious organizations; government agencies or offices; businesses or private clubs that exclude minors as patrons; and residential projects.

Retail and Professional Services Grant recipients are eligible to receive up to $15,000 in matching funds from the City for a project that meets eligibility criteria and scores high enough in the competitive evaluation process. Only funds spent on work performed after City approval of the grant are eligible for reimbursement. Eligible expenses include but are not limited to security systems, telephone systems, point of sale equipment, kitchen equipment, millwork, built-in display furnishings and shelving, HVAC, coolers, plumbing, demolition, flooring, grease traps, sprinkler systems, electrical, installation of walls, package and labeling equipment and similar items.

The deadline to apply for a Retail and Professional Services Grant is Monday, April 2, 2012, by noon. All efforts will be made to evaluate and determine funding requests within 45 days of the submission deadline. The City anticipates notifying applicants of their award status by Monday, May 7, 2012. 

Projects under all three grants would need to be completed within one-year of City approval. For a complete description of the grant application guidelines, application process, and mapping application visit the City's website at www.DurhamEconomicDevelopment.org. 

Interested applicants for proposed projects may also contact Reginald Jones, economic development coordinator with the City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development, by email at Reginald.Jones at DurhamNC.gov or by phone at (919) 560-4965, ext. 15207.  

About the Office of Economic and Workforce Development

The City of Durham's Office of Economic and Workforce Development seeks to increase the city's tax base through several revitalization initiatives, including new development efforts in the central city area. The department also plans and promotes cultural awareness and events, identifies and recruits target industries as well as assesses and trains Durham residents to fill new jobs. For more information, visit www.DurhamEconomicDevelopment.org. 

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