Baltimore Facade Improvement Grant (FIG)
Baltimore Development Corporation (BDC)
$10,000–$50,000 by FIG type (most 1:1 match)
Researched for this program: 5 rejection traps · 5 required documentsWhat decides this award ↓
Baltimore facade match grant
The Baltimore Development Corporation's Facade Improvement Grant (FIG) helps Baltimore business owners and commercial property owners fund exterior building upgrades — storefronts, signage, awnings, painting, masonry repair, and window/door work — that improve the look and feel of commercial areas citywide. Award maximums run from $10,000 (Citywide FIG) to $50,000 (Shopping Center FIG) depending on the property type, mostly on a 1:1 match to the owner's investment, paid as reimbursement after the project is complete and only for work approved before it begins. BDC also runs a companion Outdoor Spaces Grant for outdoor seating, parklets, and landscaping. The program is administered citywide by the Baltimore Development Corporation.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount range
- $10,000–$50,000 by FIG type (most 1:1 match)
- Realistic amount
- Most citywide storefronts fall under the Citywide FIG: up to $10,000 (up to $15,000 if the owner occupies the building), matched 1:1 by the owner. Corner, industrial, rehabilitation and shopping-center properties qualify for higher caps, up to $50,000.
- Deadline
- Rolling — applicants request an application and meet with BDC on site before submitting; grants must be approved before work begins.
- Status
- active
- States
- Maryland
- Payment model
- reimbursement
Who qualifies
- Business owner or commercial/industrial property owner in Baltimore
- Project is an eligible exterior/facade improvement to a commercial or industrial property
- Owner provides a 1:1 match to the grant amount
- Grant must be approved before any work begins (pre-approval required)
- Citywide eligibility
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Storefront and facade improvements
- Signage and awnings
- Exterior painting
- Brick and masonry repair
- Window and door removal/installation
- Historic restoration/renovation of the facade
Ineligible expenses
- Interior improvements unrelated to the facade
- General operating expenses
- Work started before grant approval
How to apply
-
1
Request an application and review eligibility
Contact the Baltimore Development Corporation to request a FIG application form and confirm the property and proposed exterior work are eligible.
~1 hrs
-
2
Meet a BDC representative on site
Before submitting, meet with a BDC representative at the project site to review the proposed scope, the 1:1 match requirement, and the pre-approval rule (no work before approval).
~2 hrs
-
3
Submit the approved application with bids
Submit the application with contractor bids, project scope, and ownership documentation. Wait for written approval before starting any work.
~4 hrs
-
4
Complete the work and request reimbursement
After approval, complete the exterior improvements and submit paid invoices to receive the reimbursement (up to the cap for your FIG type) in stages per BDC's terms.
~3 hrs
Do not start any work before you have written approval — BDC will not reimburse anything done before the grant is approved, and the required on-site meeting with a BDC representative is mandatory, not optional. Because most FIG types are a 1:1 reimbursement (a typical storefront's Citywide FIG caps at $10,000, or $15,000 owner-occupied), budget to fund at least half the project yourself; pair it with the companion Outdoor Spaces Grant if you're also adding seating or a parklet.
Deadline & timing
Applicants request the application form, meet a BDC representative at the project site, then submit. There is no fixed annual deadline; the program runs on an ongoing basis subject to funding. Terms and conditions were dated November 2024.
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