East Point to launch $600,000 ARPA-backed facade grant; applications open Jan. 15–Feb. 14

City staff announced a citywide commercial facade grant program for East Point that will accept applications starting Jan. 15 and running through Feb. 14, with project work expected through September.

The program is funded with $600,000 of American Rescue Plan Act funds that the city obligated after a prior vote, a staff presenter said. The grant will reimburse exterior improvements to commercial properties and business storefronts; the application and full award criteria will be posted on the city website when the program goes live.

City staff said the program is intended to boost property values, community pride and business foot traffic downtown and across all four wards (A, B, C and D). The presenter described the initiative as “our commercial beautification facade grant program.”

Who can apply: The presenter said eligible applicants are commercial property owners and business tenants within the city of East Point. The program covers downtown (there is a defined downtown boundary) and all four wards.

Timeline and process: The presenter said the application period opens Jan. 15 (the program launch) and closes Feb. 14. The overall project window runs from January through September, with a possible 60‑day extension for projects that cannot be completed in the initial period. The city plans outreach sessions in each ward; locations and dates will be posted on the city website. The presenter said the program follows a pay-as-you-go reimbursement model: applicants begin work, submit receipts tied to the approved project, and then request reimbursement.

Eligible work and limits: The presenter said awards will cover exterior work visible from the public right-of-way only. Examples listed included repainting, pressure washing, window replacement, signage repair or replacement, parking-lot repairs and restriping, landscaping, street or building lighting, and sidewalk improvements. Interior work is not eligible, the presenter said.

Funding share and caps: The presenter said the city will cover 75% of eligible project costs and applicants will cover the remaining 25%. The presentation referenced multiple numeric figures (including a $10,000 reference, a stated minimum of $3,000, and a remark that plazas may justify higher awards up to $70,000). Because those numbers were spoken inconsistently during the presentation, the exact per-project caps and minimums will be specified in the official application and program materials on the city website.

Prior action: The presenter said $600,000 in ARPA funds were obligated for citywide facade improvements after a vote; the presenter did not give the vote mover, second, or tally in this meeting. The presenter said the city has two years to spend the allocated funds but intends to complete awards and projects within the upcoming nine months.

How applications will be judged: The presenter said the website will include the full application, scoring criteria and a frequently asked questions (FAQ) document. Detailed scoring criteria were not read aloud in this meeting.

Where to get information: The presenter said materials and the application will be available on the city website when the program goes live, and that staff will take questions at city hall and via the city manager’s office. The presenter also announced planned in-person outreach in each ward and that the downtown kickoff at this first‑Wednesday meeting served as an early community outreach event.

“Everything that is happening on the outside that’s going to be visible from a distance” will be eligible, the presenter said, urging businesses to review the application once it posts and to contact city staff with questions.