City of Westminster Façade Improvement Program

How it works

The City of Westminster’s Façade Improvement Program is a matching grant program administered by the city’s Economic Development Manager or a staff member in Community Planning and Development. The City of Westminster Historic District Commission reviews and recommends awards.

The program is designed to help as many qualified projects as funding allows. The city says it is offered on an ongoing basis as funding permits, and award amounts depend on available funds, the number of qualified applicants, and other evaluation criteria.

What the money covers

The guidelines say eligible improvements include:

• Exterior cleaning, painting, and/or paint removal
• Masonry repair and repainting
• Repair and replacement of architectural details or materials
• Window repair or, in some cases, replacement
• Rehabilitation or compatible reconstruction of storefronts
• Removal of metal siding and exterior slip covers
• Removal of inappropriate or out-of-date signage and installation of new signage
• Rehabilitation or installation of awnings

The program is aimed at improving the appearance of building facades and signs/awnings, not specifically wildfire or flood hardening.

Amounts and matching

The city’s agenda materials state that grant funds are disbursed on an up to 50% reimbursement basis. The guidelines also say grant money is allocated based on available funds and project review. The page we found does not state a fixed dollar cap.

How to apply

The program is administered by the City of Westminster Community Planning and Development Department. Applications are subject to city approval, and also to approval by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development and the Maryland Historic Trust.

Timing and deadlines

The guidelines say the grant is offered on an ongoing basis as funding permits. No deadline is listed on the official guidelines page.