Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution approves changes to the City of Madison Façade Grant program including increasing grant amounts and expanding eligibility. This resolution does not change the current budget for the program of $125,000. Any additional funding for the program will be included in future Economic Development Division budget requests and subject to Council approval.
Title
Approving and Implementing Changes to the City of Madison Façade Grant Program to increase grant amounts, improve equity, simplify the process and strengthen the program.
Body
WHEREAS, the City’s Façade Grant Program was established to provide funding for the improvement of commercial building facades in defined commercial corridors and nodes; and
WHEREAS, in light of the 100th approved City of Madison Façade Grant, staff reviewed the grant program and process requirements; and
WHEREAS, the City has awarded over $1,285,200 in grants over approximately 20 years, which have leveraged over $3,290,600 in private matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the maximum $10,000 grant amount has not increased since the program’s inception, despite inflation and increases in building and materials costs; and
WHEREAS, the Façade Grant Program process requirements, grant amount, and lengthy review process for the limited funds has been unchanged for 20 years, and has been a limiting factor in the amount of potential impact the program could have; and
WHEREAS, in the past several years, special area plans have recommended that the grant program add eligibility for additional small commercial corridors, and other neighborhood activity centers; and
WHEREAS, the Façade Grant Staff Team analyzed the existing Façade Grant Program through equity, process and program improvement lenses.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the recommendations contained in the Report of the Façade Grant Staff Team, dated 7-21-2022, and the implementation of program changes to increase grant amounts, improve equity, simplify the process and strengthen the program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes increasing the overall Façade Grant amount and implementing a tiered grant system to allow staff to grant additional money for large projects over $10,000, and reduce the approval processes and match requirements for smaller grants to support small local businesses and/or historically underrepresented entrepreneurs; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Common Council approves simplifying the approval process by placing the program within the Economic Development Division, removing the requirement for Common Council approval of each grant, and implementing a Purchase Order Grant Disbursement method.