FAÇADE & STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENT GRANT

Downtown South Bend, Inc. (DTSB) has established a competitive Façade & Streetscape Improvement Grant Program to provide financial assistance to property/business owners seeking to renovate or restore building facades and adjacent streetscape(s) in downtown South Bend. The purpose of these matching grants is to provide assistance in funding well-designed building façade and streetscape improvements that respect the building's history, original design integrity, and adjacent structures and that make a noticeable visual enhancement in the downtown area.

This is a rebate program under which owners will be reimbursed 50% (maximum grant of $25,000) of the total amount spent on the project. Examples of qualifying expenditures include, but are not limited to:

Building Exterior: exterior painting, masonry refurbishing, awnings, exterior building lighting, storefront entry systems and individual windows and door replacement or modification.

Streetscape: streetscape plantings, street furniture, curb and sidewalk, street lights and related amenities.

1. Review the entire Program Guidelines.
2. Download the Pre-Application and submit it to jkain@downtownsouthbend.com with digital pictures of your property.
3. If your Pre-Application is approved, you will be asked to fill out the complete Grant Application.

For further questions, please contact Jitin Kain at jkain@downtownsouthbend.com or 574.282.1110

Note: Grant funds are limited and are awarded to businesses using a points system established by the DTSB Façade Grant Committee

BICYCLE RACK PROGRAM

Summary:
Secure bicycle parking is essential for people to use bicycles for transportation. Leaving a bicycle unattended can result in theft. Without installing a quality bike rack and using proper guidelines, bike racks can pose as an obstacle to pedestrians and bicyclists alike.

DTSB in partnership with the City of South Bend has developed a downtown Bike Rack Program which will offer free bike racks to businesses within the Central Business District. The bike racks will be installed on a first come first serve basis (please note that the number of bicycle racks installed each year are limited based on available funding). DTSB will purchase and install the bike racks in the public rights-of-way in front of downtown businesses that meet the basic specifications for the program.