Medford Launching Business Façade Improvement Grant Program

MEDFORD, MA — Medford’s Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability is launching a matching grant program for new and existing small businesses looking to make façade improvements.

The program is intended to enhance the exterior appearance of commercial spaces and attract new customers and patrons to the City’s local business scene.

The Medford Storefronts program will award up to 15 grants to small businesses and property owners interested in making street front exterior improvements to lighting, awnings, signage, and new paint. The grant will reimburse 50% of a business owner’s qualifying project costs up to $5,000.

“Our local businesses have been incredibly resilient these past two years, adapting to a changing social environment while still serving and assisting the public,” Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said in a statement. “This grant program will help those businesses in need of some cosmetic upgrades and hopefully bring more people to Medford to shop, eat and enjoy everything we have to offer.”

As part of the grant program, successful applicants will receive design and construction management assistance from Favermann Design, the on-call urban design consultant designated by the City and funded through an additional Massachusetts Gaming Commission grant. As part of the design consulting services provided to the city, Favermann Design will also develop storefront design guidelines for Medford’s commercial districts.

The Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability will begin accepting expression of interest applications from May 17tthrough May 31 and full applications to Round 1 of the grant program from May 24 through June 14. The city anticipates opening a second round of funding in the fall, subject to available funds.

Interested businesses and commercial property owners can attend a virtual public information session on May 13 at 10 a.m. The Office of Planning, Development, & Sustainability will also be offering drop-in office hours during the following times:

• Monday, May 16 from 9 to 10 a.m. | Zoom
• Wednesday, May 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. | In person at City Hall, Rm. 207
• Friday, May 20 from 10 to 11 a.m. | Zoom
• Tuesday, May 24 from 1 to 2 p.m. | In Person at City Hall, Rm. 207
• Thursday, May 26 from 10 to 11 a.m. | Zoom

For more information regarding the Storefronts grant Program, visit www.medfordma.org/storefront-improvement/. Anyone with questions may contact Medford’s Office of Planning, Development, and Sustainability at 781-393-2480 or yniwa@medford-ma.gov.