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BUSINESS DESIGN CHALLENGE
GRANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The City of Fairbury LB840 fund offers matching grants for maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and restoration improvements for businesses in Fairbury up to a maximum amount of $33,000.00 per storefront. Design challenge grants are intended to stimulate private investment in the revitalization of local architecture and to foster image-making improvements to commercial properties.
Funding for the Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grant Program is provided from the Local Option Sales Tax Program (LB840). Grants are made in accordance with the Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grant policies and are in conformance with all applicable state and local requirements. The City of Fairbury administers the Program under the contract.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grants are intended to stimulate private investment. The Program seeks to preserve and restore original architecture and to foster image- making improvements to all commercial properties located in the City of Fairbury.
Projects must have visible results that enhance economic vitality or address a code compliance issue. Each project must achieve following specific objectives:
● Reduce or eliminate vacancies in the City of Fairbury, and promote adaptive reuse of commercial properties
● Bring substandard building conditions into compliance with basic health, safety, and building codes and enhance the visual appeal of Fairbury businesses.
● Facilitate compliance with federal ADA accessibility requirements.
● Assist with the preservation of original and/or historic commercial buildings and assure that such buildings are rehabilitated in an appropriate manner.
● Grant applicants are encouraged to use the services of design professionals (architectural or engineering) to facilitate compliance with the design standards. Of the maximum grant dollars ($33,000.00) ten percent (10%) or three thousand three hundred dollars ($3,300.00) may be used for design assistance.
PROJECT AREA
The project area shall be within the City limits of Fairbury Nebraska.
ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
Any person or other legal entity owning commercial property in the City of Fairbury is eligible to apply. Special arrangements can be made for merchants who lease buildings. Qualifying commercial properties include single-purpose retail and office buildings, and mixed-use buildings containing combinations of retail, office, and residential apartments.
Single-purpose apartment buildings are generally not eligible for design grants; however, individual proposals will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
● Façade shall be defined as that part of the building facing the street(s), including the entirety of the building from the ground up.
● Storefront shall be defined as having its own unique entrance, interior space, and display window.
In cases where more than one storefront exists within the same façade, each storefront can receive its own grant for eligible grant activities.
● Structure shall be defined as roofs, foundations, or structurally significant walls.
● Code compliance shall be defined as Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements, electrical, plumbing, or other code violations determined by Fairbury City Code ordinances.
Property owners with multiple properties may submit only ONE (1) application per grant cycle. This is limited to buildings, not addresses.
There are two annual grant cycles. Deadlines for the grant cycle is January 1 and June 1. If that date falls on a weekend or holiday, the grant application is due the next regular business day immediately following the deadline. The Historic Preservation Committee (HPC) review applications as needed.
STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS
All rehabilitation work financed in connection with the Design Challenge Grant Program must conform to the applicable requirements of the City of Fairbury’s codes and regulations.
All inquiries shall be directed to:
Fairbury Development Services Director
614 D Street
Fairbury, NE 68352
402.729.5261
TERMS OF GRANT AWARD
Fairbury Business Design Challenge Grants are awarded on a 50-50 matching cost basis. The maximum Design Challenge Grant that may be awarded is $33,000.00 per storefront for projects (see below for grant limits). Grants are made on a cost reimbursement basis, following a process of application, design review and approval, and construction. Receipt of Grant awards is contingent upon submittal of construction invoices from bona-fide contractors or tradesmen.
Grant maximums are as follows:
• $3,000 for façade improvements
• $20,000 for structural repairs or improvements
• $10,000 for code compliance
ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES
Major maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and restoration of commercial storefronts, facades, code compliance, structural, and roofing are eligible activities. Projects must achieve visible results that enhance Fairbury’s image, marketability, and economic vitality.
DESIGN STANDARDS
Project activities should attempt to encompass the following:
● The property should be used for its original or historical purpose or be placed in a new use that requires a minimal change to the defining characteristics of the building and its site and environment.
● The historic character of a property should be retained and preserved. The removal of historic materials or alteration of features and spaces that characterize a property should be avoided.
● Each property should be recognized as a physical record of its time, place, and use. Changes that create a false sense of historical development, such as adding conjectural features or architectural elements from other buildings should not be undertaken.
● Most properties change over time. Those changes that have acquired historic significance in their own right should be retained and preserved.
● Distinctive features, finishes, and construction techniques or examples of craftsmanship that characterize a property should be preserved.
● Deteriorated features should be repaired rather than replaced. Where the severity of the deterioration requires replacement of a distinctive feature, the new feature should match the old in design, color, texture, and other visual qualities, and if possible, materials.
● New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction should not destroy original materials that characterize the property. The new work would be differentiated from the old and should be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the original integrity of the property and its environment.
Recommended activities for grant awards include the following but are not limited to those listed.
● Brick and Stone Masonry – Structural repairs, cleaning, repointing, and painting
● Architectural Metals - Repair, cleaning, refinishing, painting, duplication, and restoration of exterior building
● Components, e g. cast iron, pressed tin.
● Doors and Upper Story Windows - Maintenance, repairs, replacement and restoration of window sash,
● Exterior doors and installation of storm windows in conjunction with other significant facade improvements.
● Exterior Woodwork – Maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and restoration of sills, window and door frames, bulkheads, storefront and roof cornices, window hoods, decorative moldings.
● Storefronts – Removal of inappropriate coverings and additions, maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and restoration of display and transom windows, and lighting.
● Signage - Maintenance, repair, removal, and replacement in connection with real property improvements.
● Painting – Surface preparation, cleaning
● Awnings – Installation, repair, and maintenance of fabric awnings in connection with improvements.
● Design Assistance – Architectural, historical preservation, and graphic design services.
● Lighting – External lighting fixtures both for signage and building lighting.
● Roofing - Maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of roofing. This may include decking, flashing, insulation, and other roofing components.
● Structurally significant walls - Repairs, restoration, and necessary improvements to load- bearing walls.
● ADA upgrades/renovations - Installation, rehabilitation, and improvements related to Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades. This might include restrooms, accessibility, and other design standards.
● Electrical - Installation, repair, improvements related to code compliance.
● Plumbing - Installation, repair, improvements related to code and ADA compliance.
*REVIEW AND APPROVAL*
All Design Challenge Grant applications and completed projects are subject to review by the appointed Historic Preservation Commission and approved by the Fairbury City Council as a condition of the grant award.
Grant awards shall be on a first come – first served basis. Any and all disputes shall be resolved by the Historic Preservation Commission as appointed by the City Council.
The Historic Preservation Commission reserves the right to allow applicants the opportunity to modify or amend applications that contain minor errors or inaccuracies.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
1. Meet with the City Administrator and the LB840 Administrator:
● Bring a current photo of your property
● Receive application
● Discuss your plans for the property
● Understand the property’s original/historical architecture
● Create a rudimentary sketch of the work to be accomplished
2. Complete application:
● Secure architect or design service, if needed.
● Get two (2) cost estimates for work to be completed
● Complete and sign all sections of the application
● Return application to Fairbury Development Services Director
3. Grant approval:
● The “Historic Preservation Commission” will review application and either recommend for Fairbury City Council approval or refer questions or concerns to property owner
● Council votes on completed applications
● City Clerk’s office will provide written approval to the applicant
4. Execute project:
● Work cannot begin until the contract document is signed by both parties
● Work must comply with approved project description
● Project must be completed within designated time frame
5. Finish project:
● Once project is completed, send an “after” photo, copies of the receipts and proof of payment for materials and labor to the Fairbury City Clerk’s office.
● Within one month of receiving copies, City of Fairbury will reimburse the property owner in accordance with the terms of the grant.
● Completed work must be in accordance with approved description of project to be eligible for reimbursement.
● Work not completed in accordance with the approved project description may be denied payment.