Keeping up appearances with small updates

The Micro-Façade Grant is offered by Experience Chehalis, a Main Street community. This program is offered to downtown businesses and property owners who desire to make small-scale improvements to the facade of their buildings. Eligible facade expenses may include, but are not limited to, landscaping (soil, flower pots, etc.), signage, sandwich boards, art, exterior lighting, exterior cleaning, and window storefront display improvements that are visible from rights-of-way. Experience Chehalis works to promote revitalization and offers technical and financial assistance to ensure that our historical buildings and district are properly preserved, maintained, and rehabilitated.

The micro-façade program is managed by our Economic Vitality Committee, whose role is to enhance the look and feel of the commercial district. Historic building rehabilitation, signage, and lighting all improve the physical image of the downtown as a quality place to shop, work, walk, invest in, and live. Improvements result in the reinvestment of public and private dollars downtown.

The grants are intended to help downtown businesses and property owners improve the fronts of their buildings. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, we increased our 50% match to 75% up to $250 per business or property for approved improvement costs. Applications will be accepted for as long as funding is available each year. Grant awards will be first-come, first-served and based on available funding. Work done prior to the grant award is not eligible for grant funding. We are now accepting grant applications from past recipients after 18 months have passed since the last grant project was accomplished. Applications will be reviewed by Experience Chehalis.