"Best Foot Forward" Facade Improvement Micro-Grant Program - FY23 - DEADLINE: April 20th
The Best Foot Forward Facade Micro-Grant Program, made possible through a one-time grant received by 1Berkshire, will provide small for-profit and non-profit businesses located in Berkshire County with rapid micro-grants to support non-construction facade improvements to first-floor storefronts to be completed by June 30 of 2023. These micro-grants are focused on supporting simple improvements that can help add polish to storefronts and improve the general aesthetics of our wonderful small businesses across the region heading into the busy visitor season. Grants will range between $500-$1,000 and will be distributed on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis until funding has been exhausted. No more than $7,000 will be distributed within any single municipality. NOTE: At this time we are not accepting any further applications from the City of Pittsfield as it has reached it's municipality cap for the program. We recommend any Pittsfield businesses interested in grants of this type to please consider the "Glow Up" grants being offered through Downtown Pittsfield Inc. or the Vibe North Street program being done with the Berkshire Black Economic Council and the North Street TDI District. NOTE: Communities with grant applications in excess of the available funding for their specific municipality include: Lenox, Pittsfield and Williamstown. Additional applications from any of these listed communities will not be awarded due to per-community grant caps.
Grant recipients will be required to complete a follow-up report that will include submitting receipts after executing the facade improvement that the grant supports. All receipts will be due by JUNE 30TH 2023. Failure to complete the reporting will result in the grant recipient needing to return the grant in-full. For certain improvements that make sense, such as hiring a window washer or power washer, multiple businesses may apply together to maximize the benefit and improve eligibility to receive grants at the $1,000 cap.
Business Name (if multiple, please list all)
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Applicant Name (primary point of contact)
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First Name
Last Name
Applicant Email (primary method of all award communication)
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example@example.com
Primary Cell Phone Number
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-
Area Code
Phone Number
Business Storefront Address (if multiple, please choose one)
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Street Address
Street Address Line 2
City
State / Province
Postal / Zip Code
Years business has been in operation
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How many employees do you have currently?
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Please upload your business certificate (if multiple please submit certificate of primary point of contact business)
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Please select the categories of facade improvement you are seeking support for (select all that apply)
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Awning Repair/Installation
Facade Painting
Hanging / Potted Plants
Outdoor Seating
Powerwashing / Cleaning Sidewalk and/or Entryway
Signage
Window Lighting
Window Washing
Please provide a thorough explanation of the specific work you plan to do to improve your facade(s) that this grant will help support if received. Thoroughness of description will play significantly into grant decision/awards.
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Total dollar amount requested (must be no more than $1,000) - NOTE: Grant awards may be less than requested amount depending on application review, the number of applicants in any given community, or other variables.
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Please upload "before" photo(s) of the facade or facade component that this funding will address. NOTE: You will be required to submit after photos of the same location upon project execution.
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Business Demographic Information
This information will not be used in the grant review process but is meant to help us continue to gather information about business needs and how to improve the distribution of resources and support across the breadth of the business community.
Please select all categories to which your business fits in.
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Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) Owned/Operated
Formerly Incarcerated Owned/Operated
Immigrant Owned/Operated
Individual with Disability Owned/Operated
LGBTQ+ Owned/Operated
Non-Binary Owned/Operated
Person in Recovery Owned/Operated
Veteran Owned/Operated
Woman Owned/Operated
None of the Above
Prefer Not to Answer
What resources would you find useful for your business specifically in the future?
One-on-one Technical Assistance
Online Clearinghouse of Grants and Financial Resources
Advertising Support
In-person Resource Fair of Providers Offering Business Support
Virtual Resource Guide
Free Business Consultation with 1Berkshire
Does your business have any need/want for paid summer interns?
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Yes, we would pay
Yes, but we don't have the capacity to pay
No
Unsure
Applicant Agreement
By submitting this application you are confirming your acceptance of the terms of this grant if you receive it. This includes specifically agreeing to comply with all reporting requirements, to include before/after photos, receipts for improvements done, completion of a customer impressions survey at the end of the summer season, and a year-over-year revenue report for the months of July, August and September of 2022 and 2023. Additionally, by submitting you confirm that you understand that failure to complete any of the listed above items will result in you needing to return the grant funding in-full. Please sign below to confirm understanding and agreement with this information.
Applicant Signature
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Applicant Name
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First Name
Last Name
Submit
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