$$ ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE FOR COMMERCIAL FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS $$

The Glen Ellyn Economic Development Corporation has funding available to assist commercial facade improvements through our grant and loan programs. This assistance is being offered to both property owners and business owners for eligible improvements.

The Glen Ellyn EDC makes assistance available to facilitate and accelerate quality exterior improvements. Quality facade renovations improve the attractiveness of our commercial areas to patrons directly affecting the value and viability of our business community. Through this program, the EDC is reinvesting tax dollars into our commercial infrastructure for the benefit of Glen Ellyn businesses and residents.

The program is simple to use. The EDC will provide a 25% matching grant for your eligible facade improvements up to a maximum of $5,000. The primary goal of the program is to achieve true improvements in facade appearance rather than support deferred maintenance. Projects that most meet the primary goal will best satisfy the eligibility test.

In the event that your plans entail a costlier project, please note that our loan program is also available. Receive a matching grant up to $5,000 for the first $20,000 of improvement costs AND receive additional assistance if the balance of your cost is at least $20,000 and will be financed through a bank loan. The loan program offers a 3 percent reduction in the principal amount of the loan. You may shop among the local banks which participate in the loan program.

The Application Form is online as a .pdf file; you'll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to read and print it.

Eligible Properties

Existing structures currently zoned commercial and in current commercial use or planned for commercial use within the corporate limits of the Village of Glen Ellyn.

The exterior of the property must meet all requirements of the Village of Glen Ellyn Building Code. In the event that a violation is present, correction of the violation must be made prior to disbursement of the grant.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants include the owner of a commercial building or the owner of a commercial business.

Business owners who are tenants of a building must provide written consent from the building owner for all proposed improvements.

Financial assistance is available to property owners as applicants on a one-time basis per building including buildings with multiple occupancy.

Eligible Improvements

The primary goal of EDC Facade Improvement Assistance is to achieve significant visual improvements in facade appearance rather than support deferred maintenance. Projects that most meet the primary goal will best satisfy the eligibility test. The determination of eligibility and priority for assistance is left to the discretion of the EDC Board.

Work which qualifies for assistance includes improvements to the exterior of the building which are visible from the public right-of-way.

Applicants must plan to install at least $1,000 of improvements to qualify.

Notification of EDC approval of an application is required prior to the start of any renovations eligible for assistance.

The list of qualifying improvements appears below. Individually, any one of these improvements may or may not be sufficient for assistance and will be evaluated along with any other proposed improvements as to whether a significant visual impact will result:

• Brick cleaning
• Tuck pointing
• Painting
• Façade repair and treatment
• Window frame replacement (non-repair)
• Doors
• Signs
• Awnings
• Exterior lighting
• Screening of utilities
• Restoration of original architectural features
• Building additions
• Streetscape enhancements
• Landscaping in conjunction with an improvement project involving any of the above activities
• Other permanent exterior improvements to the property consistent with the architectural integrity of the building

Ineligible Projects

• Projects deemed by the EDC to be deferred maintenance
• Working capital
• Property acquisition
• Equipment or inventory acquisition
• Refinancing of existing debt or private funding
• Interior remodeling
• Sprinkler systems
• Resurfacing of parking lots
• Replacement of private sidewalks
• Improvements in progress or completed prior to notification of EDC participation
• Building permits and related costs

Design Evaluation

Design evaluation and approval will be handled by the Village of Glen Ellyn through the existing permit review process.

Progress Guidelines

Projects approved for assistance will be subject to EDC evaluation for sufficient progress toward completion. There are two basic milestone guidelines to maintain status as an approved project under the grant and loan programs:

• All necessary permit applications should be filed with the Village not more than 90 days following the date of EDC grant approval.
  
• Actual improvements should start not more than 90 days following the date of final Village permit approval needed to commence work.

Written requests for time extensions for meeting the milestones will be considered by the EDC when appropriate and reasonable.

For More Information

Please e-mail EDC@Glen-Ellyn.com or contact the EDC office at (voice) 630-469-0947 or (fax) 630-469-0426.