Purpose and Scope
In order to encourage rehabilitation of building façades and streetscape improvements in the downtown business district, the Easton Main Street Initiative (EMSI) is able to use funds from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to financially assist property and business owners in completing their projects.
Eligible buildings must be located in the Main Street district which is indicated on the map below in green. Most street-facing exterior improvements will be considered for the grant including paint, windows, repointing, doors, façade repair/ restoration, and signage. In addition to physical improvements, professional design services are also eligible for assistance under this program.
Available Funds for Facade Improvements
This grant program will reimburse property and business owners a fifty percent match of project costs up to $5,000. For example, if a project costs a total of $10,000, $5,000 will be reimbursed. Projects exceeding $10,000 will only be eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $5,000. Façade improvement projects exceeding $25,000 in cost are not eligible for this program.
Available Funds for Design Services
This grant program will reimburse property and business owners up to $500 for professional design fees related to a façade improvement project. Reimbursement will be made in full with no match requirement for design fees up to the stated maximum allowance.
Available Funds for Signage
This grant program will reimburse property and business owners a fifty percent match of signage costs up to $1,500. Sign projects that exceed $3,000 are only eligible for a maximum reimbursement of $1,500.
Eligibility Requirements
Only property owners, tenants and business owners in the designated Main Street district are eligible to apply for this grant. Tenants and business owners are encouraged to apply for assistance even if they do not have any ownership in the building. The tenant applicant must receive written permission from the property owner to be submitted with their application. The property owner and tenant may apply for funding for separate work on the same building. For example, the building owner may wish to replace windows, while the tenant may wish to replace
signage. Any applications made for improvements on the same property by the same person must be at least three years apart from completion of the original project.
Corner properties and properties with two façades visible from streets recognized by City of Easton streetmaps may be eligible for additional funding. Please indicate this on the application. At the discretion of the EMSI Design Committee, projects with major impact may be eligible for additional funding.
Eligible activities include exterior improvements made to the property that are visible to the street and permanently attached or adhered to the property such as paint, masonry, lighting, shutters, windows, downspouts, doors, façade repair, sidewalk improvements, and signage that is attached to the building.
If the building owner or tenant is proposing to do the improvements themselves, EMSI will reimburse for materials only, and the building owner or tenant must submit estimates of material prices. If the building owner is a professional contractor, only materials and labor costs for improvements completed by subcontractors will be reimbursed provided an invoice and proof of
payment is submitted.
At the time and date of application, all applicants must be up to date and current on the payment of their Easton Area School District and Northampton County taxes as well as City of Easton accounts (including property taxes) in order to be considered and in order to be eligible to receive funds.
Written notification of EMSI Design Challenge grant award must be received by property/business owner prior to project launch or sign installation. Projects that begin before receipt of “Letter to Proceed” will risk voidance of their approval.
Evaluation Criteria and Approvals
Applications will be evaluated on a point system, taking into consideration the following criteria:
● Location / visibility from main corridors
● Aesthetic impact
● Business impact
● Historic impact
● Significance of the grant to the success of the project
● Use of building
● Owner occupation
● Project amount
● Use of design professional
● Overall scope of the project
● Applicant’s ability to carry out the project
All designs must be in keeping with the Easton Historic District Guidelines and
recommendations of the Historic District Commission (HDC). Approval from the HDC, and a related Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) from Easton City Council must be attached to the application. If the COA is pending approval, the application for funds may be approved pending
approval by the HDC and Easton City Council. EMSI will award funds based on the project’s compliance with standards set forth by the Secretary of Interior for historic restoration and preservation.
Many projects, including signage, will require a City building permit or zoning approval. All proper permits and zoning approvals must be received in order to be eligible for funding. Any applicant who received approval for grant funds but who finished the project without proper City approvals will not be eligible for reimbursement of expenditures.
If façade painting is part of the proposed project, the applicant must submit color swatches and a color schemata diagram indicating where each color will be used on the building. The color schemata must be a minimum submission of the manufacturers’ color swatches and a print-out photograph of the entire façade clearly indicating where each color is to be used. A professional color rendering of the façade may be submitted but is not required. Although not regulated by HDC, color combination and placement on the building must be approved by EMSI as part of the application approval process. If the approved colors are not implemented in the project, funds may be withheld.
All information on the HDC, permits and zoning can be found in the Codes and Zoning office on the second floor of Easton City Hall and online at www.easton-pa.gov