IT’S ALMOST FREE MONEY

If you’re a commercial property owner or a business in Milwaukee, you may qualify for reimbursement grants offered by the City of Milwaukee’s Commercial Corridor Team.

Want to fix up the front of your building? Paint it? Install better windows or a door? Then look into getting a FACADE GRANT. Here’s how: First, get in touch with BID 16’s Executive Director, Tracy Staedter, by emailing info@uptowncrossing.com. She will walk you through the process. In short, you need to first apply for the grant through the City of Milwaukee. They offer reimbursable grant funds up to $5,000. The grant may not exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs. Once you receive a check from the City of Milwaukee, you can receive additional funding — up to another $5,000 — from BID 16 Uptown Crossing.

Do you need a new sign for your building? There’s a similar program for signs.

The City of Milwaukee also has a The Storefront Activation Grant designed to assist new businesses that are occupying a vacant commercial/retail tenant spaces in a commercial building. The Storefront Activation Grant will make available a new business development incentive to commercial building owners and developers. This incentive will offer reimbursable grant funds up to $10 per square foot with a maximum grant in the amount of $25,000. The grant may not exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs.

Facade Grants, Signage Grants, and Storefront Activation grants are given with the goal of beautifying and preserving the community. To learn more about the grants available from MKE’s Commercial Corridor Team, visit city.milwaukee.gov/DCD/BusinessToolbox or download the PDF.

After you’ve applied for and received payment from the City of Milwaukee for a grant, download the applications here to receive additional funding from BID 16: BID 16 Facade Reimbursement Grant and BID 16 Signage Reimbursement Grant.

Still not sure what to do next? Email BID 16 Executive Director Tracy Staedter at info@uptowncrossing.com.