Facade and Sign Improvement Grant Program

About the Grant Program

The purpose of the Rockland Facade & Sign Improvement Program (FSIP) is to provide direct financial assistance to businesses and property owners located within the Union Street Corridor Subdistrict of the Downtown Rockland Revitalization Overlay District (DRROD) seeking to enhance the physical appearance of buildings in the district. These improvements can apply to storefront facades, signage, lighting, windows, awnings, landscaping, and accessibility upgrades and more. The grant program aims to create a more vibrant, attractive, and economically sustainable downtown.

Eligibility Area

Union Street Corridor Subdistrict 
Union Street is lined with several historic buildings with traditional storefronts, which help create a welcoming pedestrian-scaled environment. The Union Street Corridor Subdistrict of the DRROD includes properties along Union Street roughly between North Avenue and Water Street. The district includes approximately 68 storefronts. The Union Street Corridor Subdistrict of the DRROD is a half mile long corridor that stretches through the heart of downtown Rockland and includes a diverse range of businesses and institutional uses - retail stores, restaurants, bars, banks, salons, convenience stores, apartments, and Town offices.

Funding

Funding for this program is federal aid from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), an act passed by the federal government in March 2021, which is intended to aid Massachusetts communities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Town of Rockland has allocated $100,000 in ARPA funds to offer direct financial assistance in the form of grants to businesses and property owners located within the Union Street Corridor Subdistrict of the Downtown Rockland Revitalization Overlay District (DRROD). Businesses and property owners can use available funds to improve their storefronts, building features, streetscape, and signage. These improvements can also be used to make businesses more accessible to patrons with disabilities.

Benefits of a Facade Improvement Program

Research and studies have shown that storefront and facade improvement programs are effective tools for promoting economic development and can bring numerous benefits to businesses. 

Building, storefront, and streetscape improvements can also increase the marketability of leasable spaces and increase property values. Facade Improvement Programs can help to lower the initial barrier and upfront capital required to encourage property owners to improve the exterior appearance of their buildings and storefronts. Even minor changes such as new paint or the removal of old or obsolete signs or building materials can be beneficial and enhance the attractiveness of the community.

The program guidelines and application linked below define who is eligible to apply to the Façade & Sign Improvement Program, what types of improvements are eligible for funding, the details and considerations associated with the potential funding, and the criteria by which funding awards will be determined.