Quick Impact Facade Grant Program

The Quick Impact Facade Grant Program is administered by Discover Downtown Washington in partnership with the City of Washington and Daviess County in Indiana. The program was established to support revitalization and beautification efforts within the downtown Washington commercial district by encouraging visible exterior improvements to eligible buildings. According to the program materials, the initiative is intended to create quick, tangible, and positive visual change throughout the downtown area through facade enhancements and restoration activities. The organization emphasizes downtown economic vitality, historic character preservation, and improved aesthetics as core priorities for the program. Grants are funded through a limited annual allocation and are distributed on a reimbursement basis after project completion and inspection. The grant provides matching funds for approved exterior facade improvements to eligible commercial properties located within the Discover Downtown Washington district boundaries shown in Exhibit A of the program materials. Grants are awarded as a one-to-one match of approved project expenses, with a maximum grant award of $3,500 per applicant and no minimum project amount requirement. The overall program budget for the 2026 funding cycle is $35,000. Eligible activities include cornice repair, signage, entrances and doors, decorative facade details, awnings, masonry repair, exterior painting and cleaning related to painting preparation, restoration of original exterior architecture, exterior cladding improvements, exterior lighting, and window repair or replacement when included as part of a larger facade project. The grant specifically excludes interior work, demolition or acquisition of property, permit fees, sidewalks or paving, roof repairs or replacement, labor performed by the applicant or the applicant’s employees, and any improvements not visible from the public right-of-way. Eligible applicants must own or lease commercial property located within the Discover Downtown Washington service area. Applicants leasing a property must obtain written permission from the property owner at the time of application. The property must have commercial activity as its primary purpose and must be current on all local and state taxes, permit fees, and municipal code requirements. Properties may not be in foreclosure and cannot have delinquent taxes, city liens, or fines. All contractors and tradespeople used for the project are expected to be properly licensed in accordance with local and state requirements. Program guidelines also state that no work may begin prior to funding approval and that all approved projects must be completed within nine months of the award date. Applications are reviewed by the Discover Downtown Washington Grant Committee, which consists of representatives from the organization’s board and standing committees, including Organization, Design, Promotions, and Economic Vitality. The committee is responsible for reviewing applications for adherence to program guidelines, compatibility with the intended character of downtown Washington, and availability of program funding. Applications may be denied if they fail to meet eligibility requirements, if the proposed project does not align with the character of the downtown district, or if funding has already been exhausted for the year. The committee meets monthly or as needed to discuss pending requests and provide recommendations to the Discover Downtown Washington Board of Directors for final approval. Program policies also include conflict-of-interest and confidentiality provisions governing committee deliberations. Applicants are required to submit a completed application form together with several supporting documents. Required application materials include a signed grant agreement, written property owner authorization if applicable, color photographs of existing conditions, samples of proposed materials and colors, and any visual documentation necessary to demonstrate the anticipated impact of the project, such as renderings or drawings. Applicants must also provide a detailed contractor proposal that outlines the scope of work, associated costs, and estimated project timeline. The application form requests applicant information, property owner information, business and project location details, a description of proposed improvements, estimated publicly visible facade improvement costs, and disclosure of any additional non-grant-funded improvements occurring on the property. The program operates on a reimbursement basis. Grant funds are disbursed only after the approved work has been completed, cost invoices have been submitted, and the project has been inspected by the Discover Downtown Washington Grant Committee. Once accepted into the program, applicants enter into an agreement with Discover Downtown Washington outlining payment procedures and compliance expectations. The program notes that funding availability is limited and that once annual program funding has been fully utilized, additional projects will not be funded during that cycle. The policy materials also state that the grant program and associated policies are reviewed annually by the Discover Downtown Washington Board of Directors and may be updated periodically to reflect changing regulatory or programmatic needs. The grant materials indicate that applications are reviewed as submitted, suggesting a rolling review structure until available annual funding is exhausted. The source materials reference 2026 grant availability but do not provide a formal application opening date or final deadline. The program webpage indicates that grants are currently available for the 2026 cycle. Contact information for the program includes Discover Downtown Washington, located at 201 East Main Street, Suite 202, Washington, Indiana 47501. General inquiries may be directed to office@discoverdowntownwashington.com or by phone at 812-254-1500. The source materials do not specify an award notification date or exact performance period beyond the requirement that projects be completed within nine months of grant award approval.

Emphasize projects that create visible aesthetic improvements to downtown Washington and align with the intended historic and commercial character of the district. Submit detailed contractor estimates photographs and visual renderings to demonstrate project impact. Ensure taxes permits and municipal compliance issues are resolved before applying because delinquent properties are ineligible.