Category: Featured Blog

The Kingsland Downtown Development Authority (KDDA) has established the Kingsland Downtown Façade Grant Program, aimed at promoting economic development and preserving the historic character of downtown Kingsland. This reimbursement grant encourages meaningful exterior improvements to properties within the Historic District and adjacent areas. Small businesses in designated areas can receive grants to enhance their storefronts and undertake building façade and property improvement projects. Eligible improvements primarily focus on enhancing the visual appeal of business facades that are easily visible to the public from public right of ways.

•  Applicants must provide a funding match and manage all improvements made to the property.
• Eligible projects must be located in the Kingsland Downtown Development Authority District boundaries. 
• Eligible applications include commercial and mixed-use business owners. If the property is leased, the tenant must submit an application for the proposed project with the property owner signature authorizing the request.
• To qualify for a façade grant, projects must result in improvements that:
  • a. Are appropriate for the building and consistent with its current business uses.
  • b) Positively contribute to the appearance and vitality of Kingsland’s downtown commercial district.
  • c.) Eligible projects must be in accordance with all government rules, regulations, and laws, including but not limited to the City of Kingsland’s ordinances and building codes, and approval by the KDDA Design Committee.

Criteria for Façade Grant Approval

Requests for grants will be reviewed, and approved or denied, based on the funds available and in the order in which they are received. Applications will be reviewed with the following considerations:

• Historic or architectural significance of the building.
• Potential impact of the project on the Downtown streetscape in general and on the building in particular.
• Location of the building—higher priority will be placed on visually prominent areas and economically blighted areas.
• Overall cost of the project
• Quality of the proposal and adherence to procedure.
• Need of applicant and willingness to implement entire rehabilitation design.
• Availability of funds.

Program Requirements

1. Property must be commercial and income producing.
2. Grant money will be awarded on a matching 1:1 basis for eligible expenses up to $1,000.00 from the KDDA.
3. Applicants must be the building owner or tenant (with written permission from owner).
4. Self contracted projects require itemized list of materials with a labor cap of $20.00 per hour. Contractors must supply a detailed written estimate.
5. Grants are limited to one per business or one per store front mailing address during any 12-month period.
6. Re-application for the same item or project within a 36-month period on the same property is not permitted.
7. Work must begin within 45 days of approval and be completed within 180 days of commencement.
8. Grants will be paid following completion of the project and presentation of paid invoices to DDA.
9. Façade Grants will not be awarded in lieu of routine maintenance, an insurance claim or for what may be viewed as an insurance claim.
10. Incomplete applications may incur approval delays.
11. No work may begin prior to final KDDA approval