The City of Atchison’s Façade Grant Program provides matching financial assistance to property owners or tenants within the Downtown District to support permanent exterior improvements that enhance historic character and visibility from the public right-of-way. Eligible applicants must meet local eligibility requirements, follow downtown design guidelines, and can receive up to roughly $2,500 per standard storefront width of building, not to exceed 50 percent of total qualified project costs. Funds may be used for design services, masonry repairs, restoration of historic elements, storefront reconstruction, exterior painting, windows, doors, lighting, awnings, and other visible façade enhancements, while non-visible or interior work is generally ineligible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by the Economic Development Advisory Group, with awards varying based on project scope, available funding, and demand.
IMPORTANT: Please check with the City before starting any demolition or construction work. Most projects will require building permits, and in some cases, your project will need approval from the Planning Commission and/or Board of Zoning Appeals.
What types of improvements are eligible?
Permanent exterior improvements on commercial or mixed use buildings. Façades must be visible from a public right-of-way. Eligible improvements include the following:
- Masonry repairs and tuck pointing
- Repair/replace/preserve historically significant architectural details
- Storefront reconstruction back to original basis
- Cornice repair
- Power washing
- Exterior painting and stucco
- Awnings and canopies
- Window and door repair or replacement
- Permanent exterior signage integrated into the storefront design
- Exterior lighting
- Repair/replacement of gutters and down spouts
- Façade building code items
- Visible roof repairs
- Non-visible roof repairs in conjunction with a visible façade improvement
- Architectural, engineering, or design fees
What items are not eligible?
Generally, the following items are not eligible:
- Non-visible roofing not in conjunction with a visible façade improvement
- Attached, hanging, or projecting signs unrelated to the architecture of the building
- Mechanical equipment enclosures (non-visible)
- Parking lots
- Interior renovation
- Temporary, portable or non-permanent improvements
- Façades not visible from a public right-of-way
- New construction
- Property acquisition
- Expansion of building area
- Conversion of use
- Working capital
- Refinance of existing debt
- Improvements in progress or completed prior to loan/grant approval
- Loans for speculative purposes
District Boundaries