Building Improvement Grant Program

This program provides matching grants to reimburse commercial property owners or business operators for Eligible Enhancements made to their properties.

Any commercial business in the City of Saginaw that is looking to enhance their existing site visually, or in ways that increase the viability of the property for business use. This includes uses allowed in the zoning classifications: Community Commercial, Neighborhood Commercial, Office Professional, Light Industrial, Heavy Industrial, and within Planned Developments.

There are 10 different categories of improvements that are eligible for consideration as part of this grant program. These include –

1. Façade enhancements
   • The replacement or restoration of façade materials, cleaning or power washing exteriors, painting, replacement of windows and doors, installation of new or renovation of existing awnings and canopies, any restoration of historical architecture, roof repairs, and the rehab of gutters and downspouts.
2. Interior building renovations
   • Renovations that enhance the usability of a building.
3. Landscaping
   • The installation of edging boundaries, shrubs and trees, seasonal plantings that provide color and aid beautification efforts, upgrades to or installation of irrigation systems, lawn renovations, and replacement or installation of fencing.
4. Lighting
   • The replacement of interior lighting, lighting in pedestrian areas such as sidewalks, accent lighting, and signage lighting.
5. Parking areas and driveways
   • Reconstruction efforts, including the removal of existing pavement, gravel, curbing, drives, or ramps, resurfacing of asphalt parking areas, and the restriping of parking spots and fire lanes.
6. Pedestrian amenities
   • The paving of areas for customers to congregate, addition of seating areas, shade structures, installation of fixtures to provide music, trash receptacles, and addition of play equipment for public and customer use.
7. Signage
   • Replacement of existing signs with new signs that comply with City Code.
8. Code compliance
   • Reconstruction or new construction for public accessibility requirements and installation or upgrade of fire suppression systems for safety purposes.
9. Demolition
   • Costs associated with demolishing and removing existing structures.
10. Public art installation
    • Addition of murals, sculptures, interactive art, visual art, etc.

The potential matching grant for each category of property improvements is EITHER 50% of the total cost of the enhancement, OR $5,000- whichever is the lesser amount of the two.

This means that if Company A submits an application for assistance on a $500 landscape improvement to their property, the most the City will match is 50% of that amount, or $250.

If Company B submits an application for assistance on a $15,000 façade improvement to their property, the most the City will match is $5,000, since 50% of $15,000 is over $5,000.

If Company C submits an application for assistance on BOTH a $500 landscape improvement AND an $15,000 façade improvement, the City can match up to $5,250 (50% of $500 + $5,000). In this scenario, because the landscaping improvements and façade improvements are in different categories of Eligible Enhancements, the two requests can be considered independently.

Please note that grant payments will be provided only as REBATES for improvements. Payments will not be paid up front, prior to construction, and will require invoice and payment verification.

If you are a business owner that would like to apply for assistance through the BIG Program but you do not own your building, you just need to provide a copy of your lease agreement and support from the property owner with your application submission.