Building Improvement Grant Program

The Lake Street Council’s Building Improvement Grant Program offers financial assistance to businesses, non-profits, property owners, and creatives to make exterior improvements to commercial buildings.

EXTERIOR IMPROVEMENT GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY ON PAUSE WHILE WE WAIT FOR MORE FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS.

You can still apply for Exterior Reimbursement Assistance. See below for more information.

Please review all the information below to understand the eligibility requirements before applying. 

The Lake Street Council recognizes that a vibrant and well-maintained Lake Street corridor plays an important role in improving overall business and nonprofit success. We believe helping to create a healthy commercial corridor is essential to building an inclusive corridor with a mosaic of flourishing businesses and nonprofits, a diversity of cultures, and a spirit of innovation – a place where businesses, visitors, and residents feel a deep sense of belonging, ownership, and pride.

The Lake Street Council’s Building Improvement Grant Program offers financial assistance to businesses, non-profits, property owners, and creatives to make exterior improvements to commercial buildings. The funds for this program come from different sources and the eligibility and maximum grant amounts are based on location, type of project, and other factors like racial equity, sustainability, and more. We can’t guarantee that funding will be available for your project, but we will do our best to help you access any funding you are eligible for. 

Please review all the information below to understand the eligibility requirements before applying.

Building Improvement Grant Program

This interest form is the first step toward applying for funding.

If you have questions, please get in touch with one of the following individuals:

Oscar Corral
Business Outreach Specialist
612-601-6980
oscar@lakestreetcouncil.org

Yusra Mohamud
Business Advisor
612-295-1515
yusra@lakestreetcouncil.org

Charise Canales*
Manager of Placemaking & Activation
612-447-8480
charise@lakestreetcouncil.org

*Contact for murals, sculptures, or other artwork on a commercial property or public property only.

Program Overview

Type of Funding: Exterior Reimbursement Assistance and Exterior Improvement Grants

Application Deadline & Review Process: Applications for both types of funding are accepted on a rolling basis. Applications for our Exterior Improvement Grants are reviewed monthly by a committee. 

Max Grant Size: $2,500 – $15,000. Please see the matrix below for the maximum grant amounts per project type. Applicants can apply for more than one type of funding assistance, provided the cumulative total does not exceed $20,000 in a calendar year.

Program Details

Eligibility

Who can apply? 

  • Property owners

  • Commercial tenants (business owners/managers)

  • Non-profit organizations

If you are an artist or have a project on public property, please get in touch with Charise Canales to discuss your project.

Geographic and visibility: 

  • All projects must occur on a site that is located within the Lake Street corridor, which is defined as the area bounded by West River Parkway on the east, 26th Street on the north, the border of Minneapolis and St. Louis Park on the west, and 34th Street on the south.

  • Projects must be visible from a public street or alleyway. Projects on the back of a building are also eligible but must be safety and security-related.  

Timeframe:

  • Eligible projects must have been made on or after January 1, 2024.

  • Applicants can apply for more than one type of funding, provided the cumulative total does not exceed $20,000 in a calendar year. 

  • Approved applications will have 9 months to complete the project.

Funding Options

We currently offer two types of funding:

Exterior Reimbursement Assistance 

All eligible projects (see below) can request Exterior Reimbursement Assistance of up to $2500 per project. Eligible projects must have been made within six months of today’s date. The maximum Exterior Reimbursement Assistance is per calendar year, per address, and per project. Applicants can apply for more than one type of funding, provided the cumulative total does not exceed $10,000 in a calendar year.

See below for more details.

Exterior Improvement Grants

If you have not submitted a request for reimbursement assistance, all eligible projects (see below) can apply to receive an Exterior Improvement Grant. These grants can typically pay between 50-90% of the total project, not exceeding the maximum amount. Applications for Exterior Improvement Grants must be approved before the project begins and require at least two estimates from a contractor or artist.

See below for more details.

Use of Funding

This dropdown menu shows the eligible projects for the Lake Street Council’s Building Improvement Grant Program, along with the maximum funding amounts per project, and the types of funding available. 

If you do not see the type of project you need to complete or have questions about eligible projects, please speak with a staff member from our Business Engagement Team listed above.

Non-eligible projects include:

  • Security shutters

  • Recurring costs of security systems

  • Chain-link fencing

  • Parking areas improvements

  • Bike parking

  • Trash and mechanical enclosure

  • Interior window displays

  • Pylon, temporary, or roof signs

  • New construction

  • Billboards

  • Roofing

  • Mechanicals and HVAC systems

  • Interior work

  • Improvements to non-commercial buildings

  • Max Amount: $2,500

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance only

    This includes items like security alarms, cameras, key fob entry system, and protective film.

  • Max Amount: $15,000

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance or Exterior Improvement Grant

    The following may be required as part of this funding: anti-graffiti coating, lighting, and an information mural plaque.

    Only one bid/estimate is required.

    Projects can not be temporary and must last a minimum of three years.

  • Max Amount: $10,000

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance or Exterior Improvement Grant

    Two estimates from licensed, bonded, or insured contractors are required.

  • Max Amount: $7,500

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance or Exterior Improvement Grant

    Two estimates from licensed, bonded, or insured contractors are required.

  • Max Amount: $10,000

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance or Exterior Improvement Grant

    Two estimates from licensed, bonded, or insured contractors are required.

  • Max Amount: $7,500

    Exterior Reimbursement Assistance or Exterior Improvement Grant

    Two estimates from licensed, bonded, or insured contractors are required.

  • Max Amount: $5,000

    Exterior Improvement Grant only

    Only one estimate from a licensed, bonded, and/or insured contractor is required.

Funding Option One

Exterior Reimbursement Assistance

All eligible projects (see above) can request Exterior Reimbursement Assistance of up to $2500 per project. Eligible projects must have been made on or after January 1, 2024. The maximum Exterior Reimbursement Assistance is per calendar year, per address, and per project. Applicants can apply for more than one type of funding, provided the cumulative total does not exceed $10,000 in a calendar year.

To receive Exterior Reimbursement Assistance, applicants are required to submit the following documentation: 

  • W9

  • An after photo showing the completed project

  • For work requiring a City permit from the City of Minneapolis Inspections Department, a copy of the signed permit

  • A final invoice from the contractor or artist showing the total project cost.

  • Proof of payment paid to the contractor or artist in one of the following ways: 

    • An image of a canceled check and a signed receipt

    • A copy of an electronic payment receipt

    • A lien waiver - a statement showing the contractor/s or artist/s have (a) been paid in full for the total project cost, (b) are satisfied with the compensation for the work they performed, and (c) waive their right to place any liens on the property for the work completed.

To request Exterior Reimbursement Assistance please fill out the following form.

Applications for Exterior Reimbursement Assistance are reviewed within 10-12 business days.

If approved, and no additional documentation is needed, you will receive detailed instructions on the next steps required to receive your funding.

All payments will be sent via our billing system, Bill.com.

Funding Option Two

Exterior Improvement Grant

** THIS GRANT PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY ON PAUSE WHILE WE WAIT FOR MORE FUNDING FROM THE CITY OF MINNEAPOLIS. **

All eligible projects (see above) can apply to receive an Exterior Improvement Grant. These grants can typically pay between 50-90% of the total project, not exceeding the maximum amount. 

Please note that you can not receive both Exterior Reimbursement Assistance and an Exterior Improvement Grant for the same project.

Applications for Exterior Improvement Grants must be approved before the project begins and require at least two estimates from a contractor or artist. The maximum grant amount is per calendar year, per address, and per project. Applicants can apply for more than one type of funding, provided the cumulative total does not exceed $20,000 in a calendar year.  

Applications for Exterior Improvement Grants are reviewed monthly and if approved the funds will be disbursed promptly with 50% provided immediately and 50% provided after the project is complete and all the necessary documentation is provided. Projects must be completed within 9 months of approval and all payments will be sent via our billing system, Bill.com. 

To be eligible for an Exterior Improvement Grant you must first fill out our interest form or speak with a staff member from our Business Engagement Team.

After you submit this interest form, a Lake Street Council staff member will respond within 2-3 business days to confirm your eligibility and give you further detailed information about the types of funding available for your project. 

As every project differs, 2-3 business days are needed to assess the information you provided and respond with the correct next steps.

If your project is eligible for an Exterior Improvement Grant, you will be required to fill out a full application that includes additional documentation. This includes:

  • A brief description of the project

  • A before photo showing the location of the project 

  • The approximate date the work will begin and end

  • Estimate/s from the contractors or artists showing the total estimated cost

If approved, once you complete your project you will be required to provide additional documentation to receive your second payment. This includes: 

  • An after photo showing the completed project

  • For work requiring a City permit from the City of Minneapolis Inspections Department, a copy of the signed permit

  • A final invoice from the contractor or artist showing the total project cost.

  • Proof of payment paid to the contractor or artist in one of the following ways: 

    • An image of a canceled check and a signed receipt

    • A copy of an electronic payment receipt

    • A lien waiver - a statement showing the contractor/s or artist/s have (a) been paid in full for the total project cost, (b) are satisfied with the compensation for the work they performed, and (c) waive their right to place any liens on the property for the work completed.