The Storefront Improvement Program (SIP) is to revitalize Soldotna’s commercial areas by stimulating additional private investment in the local economy.
Donor Name: City of Soldotna
State: Alaska
City: Soldotna
Type of Grant: Grant | Reimbursement
Deadline: 06/30/2024
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
By partnering with local business owners and lessees to share the cost of beautifying the exterior of a business, the program aims to boost traffic, increase property values, and improve the overall look and vitality of the city’s commercial districts.
The program was established in 2012 to meet several goals of Envision Soldotna 2030, the City’s long-range plan, including:

Promoting development of the “downtown area” to attract both visitors and residents;
Encouraging redevelopment of key areas, particularly along the river and major highways;
Ensuring a healthy economy by supporting a diversity of local businesses; and
Improving the streetscape along the Sterling and Kenai Spur Highways.

The SIP is a discretionary reimbursement grant, which can be used for exterior improvements to businesses in the City of Soldotna. 
Funding Information
The amount available for each property is 50% of the cost of eligible improvements, up to a maximum of $7,500.
Eligible Work 
Rehabilitation of building facades that are visible to the street, including the following elements: storefronts; windows; exterior lighting; canopies and awnings; painting and masonry work; permanent landscaping; decorative, artistic or unique signs and graphics and accessibility improvements. The emphasis of the grant program is to encourage the transformation of building facades through improvements to one or more of the elements listed above.  Greater weight is awarded to projects that incorporate multiple elements.  The grant program is not intended to provide financial assistance for routine upkeep and maintenance (e.g., painting) or to satisfy required updates (e.g., signage resulting from change in ownership or business type, franchise requirements to change paint scheme, etc.). Applications are competitive and the highest ranking proposals will be funded first.
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible participants include property owners and business lessees.
Ineligible participants

Properties primarily in residential use (ex. apartments or condominiums);
Structures not facing or visible from the right-of-way;
Government offices and agencies (non-governmental tenants are eligible);
New construction, less than 5 years old.

For more information, visit COS.