Grants to Pennsylvania Small Businesses in Eligible Locations Impacted by COVID-19 for Exterior Property Improvements

Small Business Facade Improvement Grant Program

Agency

Local

GrantWatch ID#

205885

Funding Source

City of Scranton

Geographic Focus

USA: Pennsylvania: Scranton

Important Dates

Deadline: 09/20/23

Grant Description

Grants of up to $10,000 to Pennsylvania small businesses in eligible locations for exterior property improvements. Funding is intended for businesses that have faced financial challenges due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. Eligible applicants are located within a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) area within the City of Scranton.

In accordance with the Scranton American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) mission, the city is seeking applications for Façade Improvement funding for disproportionately impacted small businesses. Funding may be applied for and used to improve storefronts and facades, including major maintenance, repair, rehabilitation, preservation, and restoration activities per the outlined eligible uses below. The City’s ARPA mission is to provide an incentive for private investment in exterior property improvements to small business commercial buildings located within the city limits.

Higher prioritization and consideration will be given to those applications that serve the economically disadvantaged populations within the city.

Eligible Activities:

Various exterior improvements deemed acceptable by the design committee:

Brick and Stone Masonry
Architectural Metals
Doors and Upper Story Windows
Exterior Woodwork
Repair of unsafe sidewalks
Storefronts
Signage
Exterior Painting
Awnings
Exterior Lighting
Various exterior improvements deemed acceptable by the design committee.

For more information on eligible activities, see: https://scrantonpa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Scranton-ARPA-Facade-Grant-Guidance-September-2022.pdf#page=3

Recipient

Eligibility

Others (see text field entitled "Additional Eligibility Criteria" for clarification)

Additional Eligibility Criteria

Eligible small businesses:
- For this Façade improvement Program, only applicants that qualify as disproportionately impacted (located within a QCT Area) will be given consideration for funding.

Below are general eligibility requirements that all small business applicants must meet:
● Must qualify as a small business – The City of Scranton has defined a small business as a business with 50 or fewer full-time and/or part-time employees
● Must be physically located in the City of Scranton
● Must have an address located within a QCT area per the map provided in the grant application
● Be in good standing and registered with the City Single Tax Office as well as current with local taxes and trash fees
● Must have no current unpaid code enforcement liens or violations of any state, federal or local laws
● Must be current on all taxes, including payroll, sales, unemployment, property, State, and Federal
● No owners have been convicted of financial crimes within the past three (3) years
● Provide proof of insurance to the satisfaction of the City prior to the receipt of any funding.
● During the period beginning on September 20, 2022 – September 20, 2023, the applicant has not received alternate Federal grant funding to cover these same costs or uses.
● If the non-profit operates within a QCT area in the City and has 50 or fewer employees, it would be considered eligible.

Additional Geographic Information:

Map of Facade Grant Areas: https://scrantonplanning.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=67d2a9e24bb146c1a61fa9dbccbf5b07

Ineligible

Ineligible Costs
● Contributions to rainy day funds, financial reserves, or similar funds
● Payment of interest or principal on outstanding debt instruments
● Inherently religious activities, such as worship, religious instruction, or proselytization and/or those that promote or inhibit religious interest
● Lobbying, support of candidates for public office, or other political activities
● Funding for programs or organizations that do not serve City of Scranton residents
● Project-related costs incurred outside of the period beginning September 20, 2022 – September 20, 2023
● Expenses reimbursed or eligible for reimbursement through any other contract or agreement with the City, including but not limited to City Small Business Assistance previously administered or CARES Act funding
● No project funds shall be used to pay the salary, travel, or overhead expenses of any applicant.
● Ineligible activities include landscaping, new fences, retaining walls, site improvements, paving, parking lots, roofs

Pre-Application Information

Applications Close On: September 20, 2023

Applications will initially be received by partner organizations based on the area in which a business is located.

● If applicable, façade plans must seek approval from the HARB Historical Architecture Review Board
● The project must use a contractor licensed in the City of Scranton.
● Grants are made on a cost-reimbursement basis following the process of application, design review, approval, and finished construction.
● Applicants are required to secure any necessary permit(s) from the City of Scranton before work may commence. There will be no reimbursement if code or ordinance violations exist.
● Applicants are required to meet all codes and ordinances of the City of Scranton.

For eligibility information about Scranton's ARPA grant programs, see: https://scrantonpa.gov/arpa/arpa-eligibility/
ARPA FAQs: https://scrantonpa.gov/arpa/arpa-faq/
Resources: https://www.scrantonpa.gov/arpa-resources

Additional Funding Information

Estimated Total Program Funding:

$500,000

Estimated Size of Grant

Awards are available for up to $10,000 with a 25% match required by applicants. If multiple small businesses share the same facade, they can submit a joint application for up to $20,000 with the same 25% match.

Term of Contract

All work must be completed within 180 days from time of grant award.

Contact Information

Applications will initially be received by partner organizations based on the area in which a business is located:
- West Scranton and North Scranton: Contact NeighborWorks to apply at https://www.nwnepa.org/
- Downtown Scranton and Hill Section: Contact Scranton Tomorrow to apply at https://www.scrantontomorrow.org/
- South Scranton, Pine Brook, and Minooka: Contact UNC to apply at https://www.uncnepa.org/

Contact Christopher Hughes with all inquiries regarding the City of Scranton American Rescue Plan Act Grant Program Application via email at chughes@scrantonpa.gov.

City of Scranton
340 N Washington Ave
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 348-4100

Grants to Pennsylvania Small Businesses in Eligible Locations Impacted by COVID-19 for Exterior Property Improvements

Small Business Facade Improvement Grant Program

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