• Interesting window dressing displays.
• Track lighting inside the window to illuminate the storefront.
• Lighting the exterior window to illuminate the storefront.
• $3,500 Grant, no match is required.

• Exterior façade work up to $10,000 in project costs.
• Exterior work such as doors, windows, stucco, awnings, signage, paint & outdoor dining furniture and improvements.
• City covers 75% of projects costs, up to $7,500*

• Exterior façade work between $10,000 - $100,000 in project costs.
• Exterior work such as doors, windows, stucco, awnings, signage, paint & outdoor dining and/or patio furniture and improvements.
• City covers 50% of projects costs, up to $50,000*

1. Encourage business owners and/or commercial property owners to improve the exterior appearance of buildings, create new outdoor seating areas, and add or improve non-temporary business building signage within the Downtown Specific Plan area.
2. Enhance the appearance of the streetscape to revitalize and reenergize the business climate in the City of Vacaville Downtown Specific Plan Area.
3. Transform downtown Vacaville into a destination.
4. Provide economic benefits such as business and job creation and/or retention, increases in sales tax generation, property values, and commercial lease rates and strengthen economic vitality in downtown Vacaville.
5. Drive traffic to individual businesses by showcasing what they do in the windows and/or make the storefront stand out.
6. Improve the visual experience of Downtown.
7. Create an engaging sidewalk environment using light, color, props, fixtures, and merchandise.

1. The Program is only available to property owners and tenants of commercial buildings within the boundaries of the City of Vacaville Downtown Specific Plan area.
2. Submittal of a complete Program application.
3. All tenants must provide the City of Vacaville with written consent from the property owner of record where the proposed improvements are to occur.
4. Tenants must provide written evidence that they have a minimum of three (3) years’ lease term remaining after the projected completion of improvements.
5. Applicants must have a current Business License to conduct business at the address where improvements are to occur and may not be delinquent or past due on any Downtown Business Improvement District fees, where applicable.
6. Applicants must have no pre-existing code violations and be in good standing with all City of Vacaville divisions and departments e.g., Planning, Building, Public Works, Code Enforcement, Utilities, etc.
7. To further the goals of the Downtown Specific Plan, eligible property owners and tenants of legal non-conforming uses for program funds will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

1. The property must have an address within the boundaries of the City of Vacaville Downtown Specific Plan area.
2. Preferred usages: businesses, including but not limited to, casual dining restaurants, wine and beer tasting rooms, bars, live entertainment, incubator spaces, and retail will be given preference in the application process to achieve the program’s goals.

1. Improvements necessitated by vandalism.
2. Any building used exclusively for residential or industrial occupancy.
3. The use of materials and fixtures that are unreasonably opulent (e.g. gold plating) as determined by the Director of Economic Development Services or the Director of Community Development.

1. Building Façades: Façade improvements must be integrated into a comprehensive architectural theme and may include, but are not limited to, such items as improvements to front entrances and storefronts; display windows and glazing; painting/stucco; wood treatments; artistic murals; exterior lighting, and awnings.
2. Outdoor Seating: Eligible outdoor seating improvements must be coordinated with the City’s Project Review Committee and may include such items as fencing and dividers, seating and tables, moveable landscaping, canopies, lighting, and outdoor heaters.
3. Signage: Eligible signage improvements must be non-temporary building sign cabinets or fascia elements that are integrated into building façades, and must follow the Downtown’s Specific Plan Design Guidelines, and the City of Vacaville Sign ordinance.

All funding assistance is strictly subject to availability of Program funds. All approved payments made by the City under the terms of the Program shall represent payments or reimbursements of a portion of the actual costs incurred by the applicant. The City Manager, or designee, may consider special circumstances to aid over and above the stated category limits, not to exceed the pilot program approved funds.

Upon completion of the proposed improvements, the City will reimburse the applicant for project-related invoices (direct expenses) for up to the maximum amount allowed under these guidelines. Applicants shall be responsible for all costs, including soft costs more than the funding assistance received or the maximum amount allowed as stated above.

All grant recipients will be required to execute a Grant Funding Agreement with the City of Vacaville and provide City Risk Management with documents confirming required insurance coverages.

The grant funds are intended to fund the final improvement to the property. Any funds remaining can be used for soft costs, not to exceed the approved grant amount.

The “soft costs” eligible under this section include:

1. Architectural design review, plan check, boundary survey.
2. Architectural and/or consultant services to the property or business tenant, e.g. preparation of bids, preparation and filing of plans, construction monitoring, progress payments, lien releases, or change orders.
3. Costs of current title report for the property.
4. Such other costs, fees, and exterior improvements approved by the Director of Economic Development Services, or designee, which are consistent with the objectives of the Program.

1. Written evidence, including a bid for costs (including soft costs, if applicable) is to be submitted to the Economic Development Services Department for review.
2. Participants must select a qualified bidder who meets the job requirements and is responsive to the written bid proposal, and inform the Director of Economic Development Services, or designee, of their decision. (Because unforeseen contingencies commonly occur during rehabilitation, 10% should be added to the bid to provide for such if not already included.)
3. Participants must submit proof to the Director of Economic Development Services, or designee, that the selected contractor (and his or her subcontractors) has the following:
   1. A State of California Contractor's License.
   2. A City of Vacaville Business License.
   3. Worker's Compensation and Liability insurance to the satisfaction of the City’s Risk Management policy.

Qualifying Applicants must submit a completed application with the required attachments to:

Applications will be deemed complete if a submittal includes, but is not limited to, the following:

1. Fully completed application form.
2. Detailed description of the proposed improvements.
3. Photographs of the current condition of the area where the improvements are to occur.
4. Drawings or plans showing the proposed improvements.
5. A bid showing total cost for the proposed improvements for a façade project exceeding $10,000.
6. Description of the source of private investment to be used for all project costs that exceed the amount of funding assistance from this Program

7. Written consent from the building owner where the improvements are to occur (if applicable).

Applications are considered incomplete if all required documents are not included upon application submission. Incomplete applications are not eligible for grant funding.

Applications will be evaluated for eligibility and how effectively the proposed improvements fulfill the Program’s purpose, including, but not limited to:

1. Extent to which improvements will enhance a building façade or streetscape.
2. Extent to which improvements will contribute to the revitalization and activation of the area immediately surrounding the building.
3. Total amount of funding assistance requested relative to the type of proposed improvement(s);
4. Visual prominence of the building and its location within the area of eligibility.
5. Projected schedule to completion of proposed improvements.

All applications will be reviewed by the City’s Project Review Committee for conditional and formal approval.

The City will notify applicants of conditional approval or denial of funding assistance by either mailed or emailed written correspondence within 30 days of a complete submittal.

The City will provide conditionally approved applicants with a Notice to Proceed upon the satisfactory fulfillment of the provisions outlined in these guidelines.

1. Time Limit Requirements
   1. For façade projects exceeding $10,000, bids must be obtained, and a contractor selected within 60 days from the date the Notice to Proceed is issued.
   2. The following improvements must be completed within the corresponding days from the date the Notice to Proceed is issued:

      Structural Façade Improvements	180 Days
      Façade Painting Improvements	60 Days
      Outdoor Seating Improvements	90 Days
      Signage Improvements	60 Days



2. Time Extension Requests
   1. A request for a time extension must be made in writing to the Director of Economic Development Services.
   2. The request must state in detail the reasons for the request.
   3. The request must be received by the Director prior to the deadline for selection of a contractor and/or the deadline for the completion of the project above.
   
   

   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any improvements are not completed within the number of days following issuance of the Notice to Proceed outlined above, and no time extensions have been granted, participation in this program may be canceled at the sole discretion of the City Manager. In such an event, the participant would be required to reimburse the City for the City’s costs for services provided.

3. Execution of Grant Funding Agreement and Provision of Required Insurance Certificates

Prior to the distribution of any grant funds allocated from the City, grant recipients must agree to and execute the attached Storefront Improvement Grant Program Grant Funding Agreement and provide the City’s Risk Management with copies of the required insurance documents.

Applicant or his/her authorized agent shall obtain all applicable permits for proposed Façade, Outdoor Seating, Signage, and/or Interior window dressing improvements/installations prior to any work beginning.

Economic Development and Community Development staff (City staff) will visit the participating building to verify proposed improvements were completed as approved and all provisions of these guidelines have been satisfied.

Applicant shall submit invoices to the City for the approved costs associated with eligible improvements made. Upon final inspection of improvements by City staff, and verification that the provisions of these guidelines have been fully satisfied, the Director of Economic Development may authorize the release of funding in the form of a check to Applicant.

□ Fully Completed Application Form

• Must include property owner(s) of record signature, if the applicant is not also the owner. A hard copy of all signatures is required. Contact information if a copy is submitted for verification of ownership.

□ Detailed Description of the Proposed Improvements

• A complete scope of work for the proposed improvements (view template scope of work document). The scope of work must include: an itemized list of all proposed improvements, a description of all proposed improvements, must include colors and/or material choices, and an estimated cost for each proposed improvement.

□ Graphic representation of proposed changes

• This should illustrate the proposed improvements. Acceptable formats include conceptual drawings, photo representation, plans and/or graphic mock-up.

□ Written consent from the building owner where the improvements are to occur (if applicable)

• If the applicant is not the building owner, written consent from the building owner must be provided.

□ Photographs of the current condition of the area where the improvements are to occur.

• Close-up photographs of the storefront in its current condition, and another photo of the entire building façade including the adjacent building storefronts.

□ A description of the source of private investment to be used for all project costs that exceed the amount of funding assistance from this program.

• For example, an applicant’s cash on-hand and/or a bank loan.

□ Written evidence that tenants have a minimum of three (3) years lease term remaining after the projected completion of improvements.

□ For projects over $10,000, minimum of two (2) bids showing total cost of proposed improvements.

• A written estimate from a minimum of two(2) vendors for the work to be completed. If the grantee plans to complete the work themselves, then a written estimate of material costs.

□ General Conditions Acknowledgement and Agreement by applicant and property owner (if applicant is not the owner).

Download and printable the Application Checklist.