Round Rock officials consider facade grant program to improve local businesses

Round Rock business owners may soon have a new funding method for revitalizing the facade, or building exterior, of their business.

City officials will vote on a proposed facade grant program that takes the form of a 380 agreement, which is used for economic development, May 11. The proposed grant program, if approved, would see facade remodeling, revitalization and other projects to improve the exterior of a place of business receive up to a 50% match with a minimum grant amount of $5,000 and a maximum amount of $100,000.

Round Rock Mayor Craig Morgan clarified during a May 9 packet briefing that the program would be funded using sales tax revenue.

Projects that would qualify under the proposed program include:

• Signs (new, repairs, replacement, removal);
• Awnings;
• Exterior paint;
• Removal/replacement of inappropriate or incompatible exterior finishes or materials;
• Brick, stone and masonry;
• Structural improvements to the facade;
• Exterior lighting detached or attached to the facade;
• Pavement, parking lot and sidewalks;
• Exterior or patio seating creation; and
• Landscaping including dumpster screening.

Additional information about the proposal and qualifying criteria are available here.