The City of Sacramento is now accepting applications from commercial building and small business owners along the Marysville and Del Paso Boulevard corridor to receive up to $30,000 in matching grant funds for exterior improvements.
Managed by the Office of Innovation and Economic Development, the grants program was created to help the North Sacramento small business and real estate community recover from the negative economic impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Improving the physical appearance of buildings and storefronts on the corridor can help stabilize existing businesses, decrease vacancies, attract more visitors and spur new investment,” said Councilmember Sean Loloee, who represents District 2 and spearheaded the project. “We want to help the look and feel of the corridor match the pride of our North Sacramento community.”
Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:
- Exterior painting
- Installation of new façade elements including signs, awnings, canopies, lighting, windows, entrance doors, stucco, siding, tile, or stone accents
- Construction of new and permanent outdoor dining or gathering spaces
- Restoration of original architectural features
A total of $2 million is available. The funds are part of a $5 million Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) allocation set aside for the “North Sacramento Economic Recovery Plan,” which was approved as part of the City Council’s ARP spending framework.
Grant awards totaling $5,000 or less do not require a match. Any amount more than $5,000 requires a 50% match.
Those interested can find eligibility requirements and apply by visiting the City’s website.
Applications for the first round of funding are due May 31 and the tentative schedule for future opportunities to apply is:
- Round 2: July 1 through Sept. 30
- Round 3: Nov. 1 through Dec. 31
- Round 4: Feb. 1, 2024 through April 30, 2024