Street Level Improvement Matching Grant Program (“SLIM GRANT”) – New Round of Funding thank to a Duke Energy Foundation Grant

APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL FUNDS ARE DEPLETED.  SEE BELOW FOR SUBMISSION DETAILS.

The Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership is excited to offer a new round of the Street Level Improvement Matching Grant program (“SLIM Grant”). This program is designed to assist property and business owners in rehabilitating the commercial facades of their buildings for the purpose of creating a positive visual impact, stimulating private investment, and complementing other community development efforts.  *Please note that the source of the SLIM Grant are private and no public funds will be used. 

Our goal is simple. We want to provide you with the resources needed to improve the exterior appearance of your business. Research has shown that exterior building improvements result in an increase in sales in the year after the improvements are made (and this increase is often sustained for several years). Additionally, improvements will motivate owners/tenants of other properties in surrounding areas to make similar investments.

Eligibility Area
In order to be eligible for the SLIM Grant, you must be located within the area described as Downtown in the 2023 Downtown Plan.

Eligible and Ineligible Grant Uses

Eligible Improvement Examples:

• Cleaning, preparation, and painting of exterior walls and trim
• Cleaning and/or re-pointing of brick, and other masonry
• Installation of siding materials
• Outdoor dining fencing
• Trash can fencing
• Signage
• Replacement of deteriorated windows, doors and/or framing visible from the street
• Removal and/or installation of awnings, canopies or shutters
• Accent lighting
• Work on cornices, gutters and down spouts
• All improvements must be visible from street

Ineligible Improvement Examples:

• Improvements not visible from public streets and sidewalks
• Interior improvements and modifications not related to building facades
• Non-façade improvements such as roofs, structural foundations, billboards, security systems, non-permanent fixtures, parking lots, security bars, interior window coverings
• Items related to business operations (i.e. inventory, business equipment, etc.)
• New construction
• Property acquisition
• Expansion of building area
• Conversion of use
• Refinance of existing debt
• Payment of delinquent taxes
• Improvements to structures outside of the SLIM Grant boundary

 SLIM Grant Process

• A total of $25,000 is available to be awarded in matching grant funding.
• Grants will be awarded up to $5,000 per business (the maximum a single business can receive)
• A business may apply for a grant from $500 to $5,000 but please note that the business must spend an equal amount or more on the project
• Owners/tenants can spend more than $10,000 on a project but the grant will only match up to $5,000
• Interested owners/tenants should fill out an application
• Applications will be considered by a SLIM Grant Review Committee to determine grant recipients and to assure, through an equitable process, that the application meets all applicable design-guidelines.
• On-line applications will be submitted and will be conceptual.  The committee will select projects based on the merit of the concepts presented and then will work with the selected applicants to develop a final design concept and hire a contractor.
• The completed work must adhere to the final design plans agreed to with the SLIM Grant Committee to ensure final payment.
• The funds will be paid directly to the contractor for approved work.
• The SLIM Grant Review Committee will have specific design modifications to each awarded grant application that must be met in order to be compliant for grant funding.  The committee will work with each awarded applicant and provide limited assistance in meeting these design modifications.
• All improvements must meet local, state and federal codes.
• Once the Public Input Session is held, the grant process and application may be amended to answer questions that arise.

Examples of Eligible SLIM Grant Projects in other cities
Click here to download examples.

SLIM Grant Application

Questions or more information, please contact the Downtown Winston-Salem Partnership staff at (336) 354-1500