Downtown Bellingham
Storefront Improvement Grant

ABOUT THE GRANT

2024 Recipients: MUD Ceramics, Maude Tattoo Atelier, Horseshoe Café, Shake & Shine, & COF&

2023 Recipients: Brazen Shop + Studio, The Bagelry, Bellingham BJJ, Fringe Boutique, & MW Soapworks

2022 Recipients: Stockton’s Paint, HOSA, & Ragfinery

2021 Recipients: Make.Shift, Sojourn, & The Wild Buffalo House of Music

The goal of the Storefront Improvement Grant is to help businesses achieve their vision for the front of their space. It is a competitive grant program to assist Downtown businesses and property owners with making improvements to their building facades, signage, and/or surroundings. Improvements can be to the exterior façade of the business, or to the interior that is closest to the window such as track lighting and signage.

This grant will fund or contribute to projects at a maximum of $2,000 for a single property. Projects are for work done to the exterior of the site only; interior work or projects are not eligible. Projects that will be mostly or fully funded by the grant will be prioritized. Selection is based on feasibility and positive impact.

The following factors are considered in evaluating impact: 

  • Current condition of the building/façade 

  • Impact on street design and neighboring businesses

  • Creative value of the project 

  • Community need/demand for change

The selected businesses will receive two benefits:

  1. A one-hour consultation upon request with members of the Downtown Bellingham Partnership Design Committee to assess needs and provide potential design improvements;

  2. Funding for project costs, up to $2,000 per business. These funds cannot be used for installation labor or staff time.

APPLICATION TIMELINE

  • Open Wednesday, February 5th

  • Close Monday, March 10th

  • Recipients notified by April 1st

  • Projects must be completed by October 31st, 2025

The Storefront Improvement Grant, managed by the Downtown Bellingham Partnership (DBP) and funded by BECU, annually enhances the downtown economy by revitalizing street-level building façades to attract customers to downtown businesses. In 2024, the DBP is empowered to award up to $12,000 total for this program. As part of a comprehensive plan to stimulate economic development and historic preservation, the DBP provides design assistance and remodeling incentives to small businesses.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Eligible applicants must be physically located within the Downtown Bellingham neighborhood. Awards shall be based on creativity, visual impact, degree of change between before and after, and level of contribution to neighboring properties and downtown revitalization.

Exclusions:

  • National franchises

  • Professional offices

  • Residential space

  • Government occupied spaces

  • Churches and other religious institutions 

  • Projects already underway

Eligible improvements include:

  • Signage on windows/doors, or hanging from awning

  • Façade improvements

  • Windows and doors

  • Lighting

  • Paint

  • Landscaping, plants and containers

  • Tile or other decorative material

  • Creative and imaginative exterior elements