City economic development staff told the public service committee they will relaunch the Great Streets grant program and begin accepting applications the first week of August.

Two grant streams will open: a matching façade grant with awards up to $20,000 (applicants must provide a cash match) and a microenterprise grant of up to $5,000 with no match requirement. The microenterprise grant is limited by CDBG guidelines to businesses with five or fewer employees, one of whom must be the owner.

Sean Bowman, deputy director of economic development, introduced Isaiah Young, the city’s Great Streets administrator, who said the façade grant will require property‑owner approval when the business is a tenant and that parking lot work is an eligible expense. Young said energy‑efficiency equipment alone would not typically qualify unless it was part of a façade‑related improvement; eligible façade work includes lighting, signage and visible exterior improvements.

Staff said the program boundaries will follow the existing Great Streets areas and that previous rules limiting repeat awards remain in place (a three‑year cooldown for prior grantees). The façade grant returns to a competitive, matched model after COVID period flexibility. Applications and program handouts will be distributed to council and posted on the city’s application portal when available.

Economic development staff urged council members to share the application links with businesses in their wards.