TOWN OF LOCKPORT
FAÇADE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Program Guidelines

The Town of Lockport Façade Improvement Program is being undertaken as part of the South Lockport Revitalization Program. If the Town of Lockport is approved for funding by the NYS Office for Community Renewal, eligible businesses will be able to apply for grants to undertake improvements to their building facades consistent with the standards of the Town of Lockport Design Guidelines for Commercial Site Plans. The purposes of the Façade Improvement Program are:

1. to improve the appearance of the South Lockport Town Center

2. to encourage reinvestment within the South Lockport Town Center

3. to encourage small business development and provide additional job creation opportunities within the South Lockport Town Center

4. to enhance residential opportunities within the South Lockport Town Center by improving the availability and access to retail goods and services within a walkable community

Program Overview
If the Town of Lockport’s grant application to the State Office for Community Renewal is approved, the Town of Lockport will make available matching grants of up to $50,000 per building for eligible and qualified applicants within the South Lockport Town Center, with a priority for assisting businesses within the South Lockport Target Area. The South Lockport Target Area is the area bounded by Transit Road (NY 78) on the west, Ruhlmann Road on the north, Londonnaire Drive (extended) on the west and Strauss Road on the south.

Funds Availability
The Façade Grant Program is a reimbursement program. To receive funds, an applicant (a building owner or tenant with owner permission) must submit a formal application to the Town of Lockport Economic Development Department. A completed application along with two formal estimates for the project plus supporting architectural drawings (if applicable) are required. The Town of Lockport Economic Development Department will reimburse only those costs deemed to be reasonable and appropriate by the Town of Lockport Planning Board to complete the proposed project. Personal labor of the applicant is not considered an eligible reimbursable expense. Successful applicants must document project expenditures and the required match to receive reimbursement.

Eligible Improvements
Applications for Façade Grants may be made for up to $50,000 per business or business owner. For the purposes of this program, a facade is considered as the principal or front elevation of a building. Eligible reimbursable costs are limited to any one or a combination of the following:

• painting
• new exterior walls/siding and repair of same
• new awnings
• exterior storefront and/or storefront display lighting
• cleaning and re-pointing of brick
• new signage
• windows and window treatments

Other improvements, such as landscaping (with a qualified landscaping plan), will be considered.

Design Guidelines
The Town of Lockport “Design Guidelines for Commercial Site Plans” (February, 2009) will be the primary criteria for determining consistency with overall design standards for the Façade Grant Program. In addition, if the structure is on the State or Federal Historic Register, design standards of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) will be observed.

Project Review Criteria
Due to the limited amount of grant funds available, projects which meet the following criteria will be given priority for selection in the Program:

• amount of private funds to be invested in overall project
• project’s contribution to the elimination of commercial vacancies
• number of jobs to be created/retained within the improved commercial structures
• extent to which improvements will contribute to the overall quality of life within the Town Center and upgrade the character of the Town Center
• completion of improvements within a six month period of time
• if the structure is eligible for inclusion in the State or National Historic Register

Additional Considerations
The following additional considerations will govern the Façade Grant Program:

1. completed projects must result in buildings receiving necessary Certificate of Occupancy and will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

2. upon project completion, the building owner will be required to maintain the building for a period of at least five years

3. upon project completion, a site visit will be made to ensure that the improvements were undertaken consistent with the proposal submitted as part of the application

In the event that the any of the above requirements are not fulfilled, the applicant is subject to forfeiture of all or part of the grant amount. The Town of Lockport will require conformance with all Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity laws.

Application & Agreement

1. A completed Façade Grant Application submitted to the Department of Economic Development, 6560 Dysinger Road, Lockport, 14094 will initiate the Façade Improvement Program process. The objective of the program will be to complete the application review and approval process, undertake the building improvement program and complete all review and documentation within a six month period of time.

2. Upon approval of a Façade Grant Application, the applicant will be required to sign and submit a Letter of Agreement. Upon approval by the Town of Lockport Building Inspection Department of final construction documents, the Coordinator of Economic Development will review and approve a construction schedule, including an estimated timeline for the submittal of Requests for Expense Reimbursement.

4/6/10