Supporting, Revitalizing and Growing Businesses
The BID Grant Program offers small matching grants to downtown business/property owners with the goal to retain and recruit businesses to stay or choose downtown Janesville for their business.
For more information, or if you have any questions about these grants, please email bid@downtownjanesville.com.
Sponsors
The matching grant program is funded by an allocation of funds from the Business Improvement District (BID). BID is funded through an assessment system that levies a special assessment against property owners within the Business Improvement District.
Eligibility Requirements
All taxable commercial and mixed-use properties contributing to and located within the Business Improvement District are eligible for this program, with the exception of publicly owned buildings. All properties must be in conforming use under the City’s zoning ordinance except a commercial use that is non-conforming due to lot, bulk, or yard requirements and/or for which a variance has been granted. For the purpose of these programs, no income producing residential properties will be considered as commercial properties. Properties will not be eligible if any special improvement district or property assessments are not paid to date. Grants will only be given for buildings with outstanding building code violations if the grant is primarily intended to reverse those code violations as a first priority. Only one grant per year per property owner and or tenant per building or address will be allowed. Grant application must be received before work begins. The same grant can only be awarded to the same recipient every 3 years. This is meant to encourage a larger number of businesses receiving grants.
Applicants
Owners, leasers, or a joint venture of these two parties may submit an application under this grant program. Tenants must submit written approval of the property owner and evidence of their leasehold interest.
Application Submittal
To be formally considered for a grant request, an application must be completed in full and submitted to the BID through the website or via email to bid@downtownjanesville.com on or before the due date.
Application Review
BID Director or equivalent shall review submittals to determine that all information is complete and accurate. The BID will then review all applications to assure compliance with the Design Guidelines. Applicants are notified of grants awarded. Once approved (with or without modifications), the project must be adhered to the plan submitted. Should an applicant deviate substantially from the approved plan, the BID will not release the grant money.
Grant Payment
If all the following conditions are met, the BID will provide the applicant with a certificate of completion indicating that the applicant has acted in good faith and has completed the project satisfactorily and BID will release a check made out to the applicant to the amount agreed upon in the contract. Certificates of completion will be released when:
- Applicant supplies documentation that any permits required under the City’s Building and Zoning Codes have been taken out.
- All work is completed within the time period agreed upon or amended between the applicant and BID.
- All work completed follows the agreed upon design.
- Documentation of Applicants matching investment must be supplied.
Available Grants
To be formally considered for a grant request an application must be completed in full and submitted online or to BID via email on or before the due date.
Downtown Facade Grant
The objective of the Facade Grant Program is a matching grant program designed to provide assistance with projects that will make the biggest impact (transformational change) on the streetscape of existing commercial properties within the Business Improvement District. The grant application is released early February and the March 31 deadlins has been extended to April 30. In 2024 and 2025, BID has increased the amount available from $15,000 to $25,000 in matching grants.
Recruitment and Retention Grant
A matching grant designed to encourage new businesses to our downtown and help retain current businesses. The focus is to provide assistance for the maintenance, rehabilitation, and upgrading of existing commercial properties within the Business Improvement District. This is a rolling grant and can be applied for year round. In 2024 and 2025, BID has increased the amount available to $14,000.
Signature and New Event Grant
Designed to support key downtown signature events annually and one time support to help launch new downtown events with the ultimate outcome of attracting local and surrounding community to visit our downtown and build awareness and/or traffic to local businesses.
