Georgia Avenue
Storefront Improvement

The Georgia Avenue Storefront Improvement Program provides up to $10,000 in matching grant funds (80% city/20% owner) to assist Georgia Avenue business owners in enhancing their commercial/retail properties. The underlying principle of the program is that quality design contributes to doing good business and to the overall image of the business district and neighborhood both day and night. Business districts with high design standards are more attractive to potential customers and have typically encouraged pedestrian activity.

The district of Columbia's Department of Housing and community Development (DHCD) and Office of Planning (OP), partnered with local community development corporations, administer the program jointly and serve as the Project Review Panel. The roles of each program partner are as follows:

  • DHCD provides program funding from the District’s allotment of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) resources.Funds have been earmarked to implement this program over a five-year period.DHCD will monitor the grants and construction contracting process to determine compliance with federal regulations and Davis Bacon wage requirements.The DHCD Program Manager will coordinate program activities with project partners.DHCD issues final approval on all applications.
  • OP shall monitor the progress of the program to determine compliance with area-wide planning objectives and also to track its progress for the Office of the Deputy Mayor of Planning and Economic Development.OP will assist in developing design guidelines for specific business districts.OP shall work closely with other program partners and others in providing information about this Program. 
  • CDC-partners manage grant funding received for approved façade improvements in designated locations on Georgia Avenue.They will market the program and provide business owners with program information.CDC-partners enter into participation agreements with approved applicants and oversee the implementation of the construction work.CDC-partners shall recommend a series of adjacent business applicants to DHCD for grant consideration.The CDC-partners provide conceptual design services to business owners whose applications have been approved.Design services include an elevation drawing of the building facade, descriptions of proposed materials, project scope of work, and a separate schedule of estimated project cost.The CDC-partners will work with business owners to locate three (3) qualified contractors to bid on the project(s) with Davis-Bacon wage requirements.

    What improvements are eligible for funding?

    Properties must have frontage on Gerogia Avenue.

    The following types of improvements are eligible for funding:

  • Exterior painting;
  • Removing inappropriate or incompatible exterior finishes or materials;
  • Restoring exterior finishes and materials;
  • Repairing / reconfiguring of existing doors and entrances;
  • Repairing or replacing existing storefront window systems;
  • Signs (new, repairing, replacing and removing);
  • Exterior building and sign lighting, display area lighting;
  • Roll-down grate and grate box removal (installation of electronic security systems to replace grates is also an allowable expense); and
  • Awnings or canopies—new, repairs or replacement of existing.

    The image of storefronts and the business district can be addressed in several ways.Because the amount and location of storefront and building signage greatly impact the overall appearance of the storefront and the business district, applications from business owners seeking to install new signage will be given preference.    The image of storefronts during the evening and night hours adds to the perception of safety. Removal of solid roll-down grates is strongly encouraged.Security grates with at least 51% transparency are preferred. Other forms of property security are available and are more attractive while providing similar levels of protection.

    Interior improvements are not eligible for funding unless reasonably caused by exterior alterations. For example, the replacement of doors and windows may require hardware changes and different structural requirements that not only affect the exterior, but the interior as well. Also, the installation of concealed, pull down, wire mesh security grates from the interior ceiling and other alterations related to the grate installation shall be allowed. Business owners are encouraged to pursue other sources of funding for interior upgrading of their properties.

    All improvements must comply with the District’s zoning and building codes, as well as applicable sections of the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG).Particular attention should be paid to signage restrictions that are outlined in District of Columbia Construction Codes Supplement 1999 (Building Code), Chapter 31 – “Special Construction.”

    Rehabilitation of historic structures must be executed in compliance with the District’s historic preservation regulations.

    What are design guidelines?

    Creating design guidelines serves to strengthen the image of the district, while sending a message to pedestrians and those passing by in cars and buses that the businesses are working together for quality.Design guidelines typically deal with the character that the businesses want to achieve for their district.Design guidelines may include recommendations or requirements for the following:

    • facade treatment (restoration of historic facades, materials, etc.);
    • signage (location, amount, type, materials, etc);
    • awnings or canopies
    • lighting; and
    • others (color, streetscape investments, landscaping, etc.).

    How will projects be selected for grant funding?

    Building owners or business owners with authorization from their building owners or the owners’ agents must complete a Grant Application and submit it to the CDC-partner designated for their business location.

    The CDC-partner will review applications and then explain the Program requirements.Qualified applications and a clear color photo of each applicant’s building will be forwarded by the CDC-partner to DHCD’s Project Manager.The Project Manager will convene a meeting of the Project Review Panel to decide if grant assistance will be provided.The Project Manager will forward written notice to the CDC-partner for those businesses that may begin conceptual design. The Project Review Panel must approve conceptual design drawings, written scopes of work and estimated budgets. Upon approval of the submission, participation agreements will be forwarded to the CDC-partner for processing. District construction funding will be authorized by DHCD. CDC-partners will issue a letter of commitment to approved businesses and solicit bid proposals for construction.

    Funding preference will be given to a series of adjacent business establishments.

    Grant assistance will only be given to properties that are compatible with the objectives and criteria of this Program and the Georgia Avenue Revitalization Initiative

    Properties approved for the Storefront Improvement Program must not have real estate property tax arrears.

    What are the grant requirements and when will the grant funds be disbursed?

    Georgia Avenue Storefront Improvement Program operates on a matching grant basis. District government will contribute up to 80% of the total improvement cost not to exceed $4,500. The applicant must contribute at least the remaining 20%. The applicants’ 20% matches must be submitted to the CDC-partner upon approval of grant applications.DHCD will authorize issuance of grant funds to CDC-partners upon receiving proof of façade expenditures and compliance with Davis-Bacon wage requirements.

    Work completed prior to receiving a letter of commitment from the CDC-partner is not eligible for funding.

    Are there funding sources available to assist Georgia Avenue businesses with improvement costs?

    Yes! Please contact Georgia Avenue Business Access Center at 7408 Georgia Avenue NW, 202.545.0222.