Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program Offered by the City of Oakland, California

Getting a grant is not easy for most small business owners. Many of the grants being offered are for non-profit organizations. But in Oakland, California, the city wants to help out local businesses of all kinds with a matching grant program.

Here's how the grant works

The grant is specifically for facade improvement. Business owners can use the money to improve the appearance of their businesses. The city will even provide free architectural consultation fees up to $5,000. The grants are 50 percent matching grants that range from $10,000 to $30,000. The money can be used to do exterior repairs and improvements.

Additional grants

If a small business owner is renting the building to a tenant, they may be eligible for a tenant improvement grant. The building must be located in specific areas of the city and be used for entertainment or retail business. In addition to a grant that covers 50 percent of tenant improvements up to $10 a square foot, the grant also includes up to $5,000 of architecture fees.

For more information, visit oaklandbusinesscenter.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19&Itemid=86