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Bid facade grant program to resume; $27,500 available for building improvements
Summary
Board discussed restarting the BID facade grant program, which offers 50% matching support (up to the first $50,000 of a project). The board signaled support to relaunch the program and will make the application process available online.
The Downtown West Bend BID intends to restart its facade grant program, which the board said has stimulated private investment in building exteriors and alley improvements.
Mark Allen summarized the program’s history and mechanics and said $27,500 remains available in the BID facade grant fund. He told the board the program is typically a matching stimulus: the BID provides a 50% match on eligible work, matched up to the first $50,000 of a project.
Board members and public commenters described past projects — including tuckpointing, new doors and exterior painting — that encouraged additional private investment. Mark said the program helped catalyze work on buildings such as Sal’s Pizza and others along the river-facing portions of downtown.
There was no formal vote recorded to re-allocate funds; board members agreed to schedule meetings to restart the application process, update the website so applicants can apply, and to review design guidelines as a short-term activation from the recently completed downtown master plan.
Board members noted that design guideline updates would likely involve city staff and private stakeholders and would not take effect immediately; the board said it intends to pursue a review of the façade and signage standards as a short-term project emerging from the master plan.
