COMMERCIAL FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT GRANT
RDP reimburses half the cost of exterior improvements to commercial buildings downtown — up to $5,000 per property, per year. It's our largest direct investment in the buildings that make Peru look like Peru.
Do not start work before you're approved
Grants are only available for projects that have not yet begun. You must receive written approval from the RDP Façade Committee before any work starts — if work begins first, the application is ineligible, with no exceptions.
If you're planning a spring project, apply in the fall window beforehand. This is the single most common reason a good project doesn't get funded.
STEP ONE: DO YOU QUALIFY?
- The property is zoned and designated for commercial use.
- It sits inside the façade program district — see the map.
- You're the owner, or a tenant with written owner approval.
- Any existing code violations are addressed as part of your proposal.
- You'll obtain all required permits and board approvals before starting.
- The work hasn't begun yet.
IF YOU'VE RECEIVED A GRANT BEFORE
Recipients who received the full $5,000 may apply again after 12 months.
If you received partial funding, you can apply for the difference within that same 12-month period.
STEP TWO: WHAT’S COVERED?
The Facade Improvement Grant primarily covers six categories of exterior work. Projects should follow the RDP Commercial Façade Program Design Standards and improvements are expected to suit the building's architectural period and sit well next to its neighbors.
Exterior Painting
Paint compatible with the building's period. Color schemes should accent the building and harmonize with adjacent storefronts. Rear and side façades, and historic or artistic murals, may be considered.
Awnings
Canvas awnings, with or without signage.
Exterior Lighting
Install, replace, or repair lighting that enhances the storefront and any landscaping in line of sight from the road. Lighting may illuminate the storefront and sidewalk — not the awning alone.
Windows & Doors
Front façade and upstairs windows: frames, sills, glazing, or glass. Restoring the original window size is encouraged; filling in existing openings is discouraged.
Brick & Stone Façade
Installing a new brick or stone façade on an existing structure.
Maintenance & Restoration
Structural repairs to the façade system, masonry repair, cleaning or re-siding, and restoring deteriorated historic detail. Restoration of original elements is encouraged.
STEP THREE: WHAT TO SUBMIT?
A complete application has six parts. Incomplete applications can't move forward, so it's worth submitting early enough that the committee can flag anything missing.
- Current photographs of the property to be improved
- A written description of the planned work, with plans or diagrams and call-outs for materials and colors
- Completed Application Cover Sheet, including the signed Statement of Understanding
- Completed Detailed Project Information Form and Checklist
- Preliminary cost estimates from licensed contractors
- Proposed work following the RDP Commercial Façade Program Design Standards
Doing the work yourself? You'll still need an estimate from an outside source, so the committee can confirm costs are reasonable.
THE PROCESS:
FROM APPLICATION TO REIMBURSEMENT
Apply
Submit your complete application online, by email, or in person.
Review & Inspection
The committee reviews applications and schedules an on-site inspection, then tells you what else is needed.
Award Notice
Awards are announced in writing. Declined applications get written reasons and next steps.
Do the Work
Pull your permits, send RDP copies, and build. Changes to approved plans need committee sign-off first.
Get Reimbursed
Final inspection, then submit paid receipts and an "after" photo. Funds are released after that.
This is a reimbursement program, not an up-front grant. You pay your contractors, then RDP repays half of eligible costs once the project is finished, inspected, and documented. Plan your cash flow accordingly.
BEFORE YOU SIGN:
WHAT YOU’RE AGREEING TO
- You'll maintain the improvements for five years from completion or until the building is sold.
- If the building changes ownership within one year of the award, the funds are repayable to RDP.
- Funds are used only for the project described in your application.
- Deviating from the approved plan without sign-off may cost you the reimbursement.
- You're responsible for confirming permits and approvals with zoning and planning.
- Your "after" photo may be used in RDP promotions.
READY TO GO?
START YOUR APPLICATION
Download the application packet, or send us a note first if you'd rather talk it through. Questions before applying are welcome — they're a lot easier to resolve now than in February.