KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
FACADE REBATE PROGRAM
City Planning and Development Department
Revised December 2010

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Facade Rebate Program is a building facade improvement program designed to provide rehabilitation grants to owners of commercial property and businesses in City-designated commercial revitalization areas.

The central purpose of the program is to improve the attractiveness and commercial appeal of businesses in the targeted areas. Leveraging private investment for improvements is a major component of this objective. Historic preservation is a secondary objective of the program in that all improvements shall, to the extent possible, be in keeping with the structure’s original style and character. The program is designed to compliment and support existing, on-going, planning efforts of the city and the community in key corridor areas. This program offers a great incentive to owners of commercial property and businesses located within these key corridor areas.

The Facade Rebate Program (Program) is funded with Community Development Block Grant funds and is managed by the Kansas City, Missouri Planning and Development Department (City).

MEETING A “NATIONAL OBJECTIVE”
The City’s 2010 Façade Rebate Program participants must meet one of the federally-established “National Objectives” and be an eligible activity:

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS BENEFITTING LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME PERSONS ON AN AREA BASIS
Commercial and industrial projects must provide services to low- and moderate-income residents to be eligible to participate in the program. Projects must be in area where an average of 51% or more of the population has an income below 80% of the community average. In addition, buildings must be on or adjacent to a main commercial thoroughfare and within the service area of a qualified local neighborhood development organization.

Grants will be awarded per building. The maximum grant per building will be in the amount of $5,000.00 or 50% of the total eligible project costs, whichever is less. For historic properties, the maximum grant will be in the amount of $10,000 or 50% of the total eligible project costs, whichever is less if:

• The building is 50 years or older;
• The building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or is in the process of being nominated to the National Register of Historic Places; and
• The business owner or property owner is applying for state or federal historic tax credits to assist in the building’s rehabilitation or improvement.

To learn more, download the full document here: Facade Rebate Program

I. Program Description
II. Limitations
III. Eligible Improvement/Rehabilitation Costs
IV. Procedures
V. Process
Appendix A: Design Guidelines
Appendix B: Secretary’s Historic Standards
Appendix C: Program and Agency Areas
Appendix D: Application
Appendix E: Sample Approval Letter