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Grants to Alaska Businesses for Capital Improvement Projects in Eligible Regions

Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program


Grant Writers
Agency
Local
GrantWatch ID#
209516
Funding Source
CITY OF KENAI
Array ( )
Geographic Focus
USA: Alaska: City of Kenai
Important Dates
Deadline: 05/02/25 5:00 PM Save
Grant Description
Grants of up to $10,000 to Alaska businesses for capital improvement projects in eligible regions. Applicants must contact the funding source prior to applying. Funding is intended for exterior renovation and streetscape projects that enhance the appearance of commercial building facades, landscaping, parking areas, and signage. The goal of the program is to positively impact business sales and the ability to attract new customers while improving community pride. Eligible applicants are located in the City of Kenai.

The City of Kenai encourages property owners and tenants to invest in exterior renovations to commercial storefronts and streetscapes by providing matching funds to cover a portion of the eligible costs.

Program Objectives: To encourage and motivate local business improvements and reinvestments in the City of Kenai by sharing the costs of storefront and streetscape improvement projects to strengthen the business activity and enhance economic vitality in Kenai.

The Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program meets several goals and objectives of City of Kenai’s Imagine Kenai 2030 Comprehensive Plan, including:

  • Implement business-friendly regulations, taxation and incentives to create a stable positive climate for private investment
  • Promote adaptive reuse of vacant commercial buildings in the city center and along Kenai Spur Highway
  • Support development at emerging community centers that lie outside the major employment centers but provide a mix of retail, service, and residential uses

An eligible project includes any of the following improvements that are visible from a public street or right-of-way:

  • Exterior façade improvements or repairs include, but are not limited to windows/doors, painting, architectural details, cladding/siding, awnings/canopies, outdoor lighting, art and permanent signage
  • Installing landscaping or other streetscape improvements. Standalone streetscape improvement projects such as parking lot resurfacing/restriping must provide landscaping that meets the requirements of KMC Chapter 14.25 Landscaping/Site Plan Regulations
  • Installing new accessibility features such as ramps or handrails
  • Improvements/Repairs to bring nonconforming signage, site plan/landscaping into conformance with current Kenai Municipal Code

Other eligible work that may be reimbursed through the program includes construction, materials and labor. Work must be performed or overseen by a licensed general or specialty contractor with a valid State of Alaska business license and Kenai Peninsula Borough Sales Tax Certificate. If you wish to do the work yourself (no contractor) then only the cost of the materials is eligible for the grant. Eligible work may include, but is not limited to the following:

  • Contracted labor
  • New paint
  • Adding new or replacing existing windows or doors
  • Electrical and light fixtures
  • Directional signage
  • Permanent outdoor dining area
  • Paving with landscaping (A minimum of 20% grant reimbursement must be allocated to landscaping improvements)
  • Hardscaping
  • Canopies, awning and/or shade structures
  • Bike racks and/or benches
  • Planter boxes

For design principles, see https://www.kenai.city/sites/default/files/fileattachments/city_manager/page/15869/2024_storefront_and_streetscape_program_guide_final.pdf#page=13.
Full Grant Text RFP
Recipient
Additional Eligibility Criteria
To apply to the Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Grant, you must be the property owner(s) or business lessee (with written property owner authorization).

Eligible applications must answer YES to all of the following:
- Business(es) is/are locally owned and/or operated local franchises in City of Kenai
- Project is located within a commercial or mixed-use zoning district
- Project will support an existing commercial structure(s) (e.g., home-based businesses do not qualify) that was/were constructed at least five (5) years ago
- Project includes at least one eligible improvement (see Eligible Improvements)
- Storefront must be visible from a public street (i.e., street-facing)
- Construction work has not started
- Building(s) with existing or proposed window(s) will have clear, unobscured street-facing window(s) once construction is complete and for the five (5) year maintenance period
-- Window tints, vinyl wraps, tinted or frosted glass, large window decals, and window perforations that obscure views in and out of the building may not cover more than 50% of any one window panel and no more than 10% of the square footage of windows on the street-facing façade(s).
- Grant the City permission to use any image (photographs and/or video) for use in media publications including, but not limited to, email blasts, newsletters, magazines, general publications, website and/or affiliates, or videos.
- Be current on all financial obligations to the City of Kenai and Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Ineligible
The following businesses and projects are ineligible for the Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program:
- Improvements for a national food chain, C Corporation traded on a U.S. stock exchange, or a corporate-equivalent entity traded on a foreign stock exchange, and owned in whole or majority-owned by such a publicly traded corporation
- New construction, residential renovations/alterations, re-roofing, structural foundations, temporary signage, security systems, interior improvements, personal property and equipment, in-kind labor or business operation costs
- Digital screens or flashing signage
- Building alterations that would alter the contributing status of properties identified in the Kenai Townsite Historic District Survey Report.
- Removing ramps, curb cuts or other accessibility features

Examples of ineligible costs include permit fees, insurance, gas, tools, consumables, cell phone fees and other incidental costs.

If you start work before the Program Agreement is signed, the project will not receive a grant--even if it was approved by the Program Administrator.

Grant amounts will not be increased due to changes in project scope or cost overruns.
Pre-Application Information
Submit Application to the Planning and Zoning Department before Friday, May 2, 2025 at 5pm.

**Deadline extended to Friday, May 2, 2025 at 5pm.**

Program Process:
- Step 1: Apply to the Program:
1. Contact the Program Administrator to confirm eligibility. The Program Administrator will visit your site to discuss your plans and help you plan for a successful project.
2. Complete an application package and submit it to the Program Administrator during an application period.
- Step 2: Application Review:
Completed applications received during an application period are reviewed by the Program Administrator against the design principles and intent of the program. This review may take up to four (4) weeks. Applications will be approved, approved with conditions, or refused.
- Step 3: Program Agreement
- Step 4: Construction
- Step 5: Reimbursement
- Step 6: Maintenance

The Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program provides a 50% reimbursement.

You may apply more than once as long as the building or property site does not exceed the maximum grant amount in a 5-year period. If a property is sold and the new owner wishes to apply for the grant, the 5-year time frame still applies. The 5-year time frame starts on the project completion date.
Estimated Size of Grant
Up to $10,000 for each approved project
Term of Contract
Projects have 18 months from when the Program Agreement is executed to complete the project in order to be eligible to receive the grant. A time extension may be granted prior to the project completion deadline and that the City has the right to deny a time extension if the applicant has not demonstrated sufficient progress in completing the project.

All storefront and streetscape renovations supported by the Storefront and Streetscape Improvement Program must be maintained for five (5) years. If the owner fails to maintain the building or site improvements, they may be required to repay up to 50% of the grant.
Contact Information
Contact the funding source to discuss your project, and submit applications by mail or email:
City of Kenai Planning and Zoning Department
210 Fidalgo, Ave
Kenai, AK 99611
planning@kenai.city

Tel: 907-283-8237

City Manager
Terry Eubank
Phone (907) 283-8222
Email: teubank@kenai.city
RFP & Supporting Documents
Full Grant Text RFP

Before starting your grant application, please review the funding source's website listed below for updates / changes / addendums / conferences / LOIs.

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