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CHESTER DOWNTOWN FAÇADE IMPROVMENT PROGRAM

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Summary of Program Guidelines

Purpose

 To provide incentives to property owners or tenants of properties located in the Chester Downtown Business District to enhance the physical appearance of their building facades. 

Eligible Uses

Exterior treatments of existing buildings.  Eligible construction/rehabilitation will include exterior walls visible from the public right-of-way.  Roofing will be considered eligible only when it is a visible part of the principal façade.  For projects over $2,000, the Davis Bacon prevailing wage laws apply.  

Eligible Applicants

Property owners of eligible properties that house for-profit businesses or for-profit business tenants in eligible properties.  Tenants occupying eligible properties must provide written consent from the property owners for the proposed renovations.

Program Boundaries

The Chester downtown business district.  (See map on back.)

Rates and Terms

This program offers a zero (0) interest loan, which will be forgiven on a three (3) year pro rata basis.  At the completion of each full year that the business occupies the property, the amount of the original loan will be reduced by thirty-three percent (33%).  After three full years, the entire loan will be forgiven. 

Loan Amounts

50% of total project costs.  Maximum loan is $10,000.00.

Fees

 $100.00 Application Fee

Restrictions
  • Buildings with religious or governmental use cannot be considered for funding.
  • Properties, which have received façade improvement funds within a ten-year period of application date are ineligible to receive façade improvement funds.
  • Owners of more than one commercial property within the designated façade improvement program boundaries are eligible for maximum of two (2) façade improvement loans.
  • Solid metal grates are not an eligible use of façade improvement funds.  Façade improvement funds will not be used to improve properties that have solid metal grates unless such grates are removed as part of the façade renovation.
  • Structural upgrades are not eligible unless they are integral components of the façade improvement.
  • Curbs and sidewalk improvements are not eligible activities for funding.