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Hagerstown staff propose broader Invest Hagerstown facade grants, larger fire-suppression awards
Summary
City staff proposed expanding the Invest Hagerstown sign and facade grant to cover the entire downtown mixed-use area, allow nonprofits and residential conversions to apply for facade aid, and streamline fire-suppression grants into a single application with a proposed maximum of up to $50,000; staff said nonprofits would generally remain ineligible for the fire-suppression fund because state programs are available.
City staff presented proposed guideline updates for two related downtown programs on Nov. 18: the Invest Hagerstown sign and facade grant and the fire-suppression system grant funded through strategic-demolition pass-through grants.
Planner/staff member Chris described three main changes to the sign and facade program: expand eligibility to the full downtown mixed-use zoning area rather than only the Main Street district; allow residential conversions and mixed-use residential buildings to apply; and permit 501(c)(3) nonprofits to be eligible for facade funding to address aesthetic improvements (for example, a nonprofit mural or new sign). Chris said the facade changes respond to applicant feedback and practices in other jurisdictions.
For the fire-suppression grant, staff proposed streamlining two existing components into a single application and raising the maximum award level to as much as $50,000 (the transcript referenced prior component caps and a combined $40,000 cap). Chris explained nonprofits would generally remain ineligible for the fire-suppression program because those organizations can apply directly to state funding streams for interior fire-suppression needs, while the facade program addresses exterior aesthetics that nonprofits frequently cannot otherwise fund.
Council questioned current pool funding and requested confirmation of available dollars; staff said the facade pool was roughly $25,000 but would confirm and return with final numbers and place the revised guidelines on next week’s agenda for a vote.
