City of Virginia Beach Development Authority Announces Return of Façade Improvement Grants

The City of Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) is pleased to announce the return of the Façade Improvement Grant (FIG) program.

For four years in a row, this popular program has provided financial assistance to businesses and property owners seeking to enhance the attractiveness of their properties. The results speak volumes. Since the program’s inception, VBDA has awarded $390,223 in grants to 54 small businesses, who in turn have invested $1.8 million in properties throughout the City.

The program, which is administered by the Department of Economic Development, provides matching grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses and property owners who are looking to make improvements to the exterior of their buildings or properties. These improvements can include highly visible windows, doors, awnings, building material upgrades, fencing, signage, accent or security lighting, and other enhancements that will make an impactful improvement of the overall appearance and attractiveness of a property.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer this program for a fifth year,” said Lisa Murphy, chair of the VBDA. “The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive and has resulted in a noticeable enhancement of the attractiveness and marketability of our commercial and industrial corridors. We encourage all eligible businesses and property owners to take advantage of this opportunity, which will enable them to enhance the appearance of their buildings and properties in a manner that contributes to the overall vitality of our city.”

The program is available for new exterior improvements made by small businesses and property owners that lease to them, who meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be a new or existing small businesses or nonprofit entity licensed in Virginia Beach with fewer than 50 employees.
• Businesses and property owners must be current on all taxes and fees owed to the City.
• Properties must be zoned for commercial or industrial uses.

The application portal and guidelines for the FIG program can be found at www.yesvirginiabeach.com/fig. Grants will be awarded to eligible applicants on a competitive, first-come, first-served basis and paid after successful completion of the improvements. Applications will be ranked and evaluated based on the improvements that make the most demonstrable impact. The exterior improvements must be completed within six months of the grant award and must not have commenced prior to submission of the application.

The mission of the Virginia Beach Department of Economic Development is to drive economic vitality and inclusive prosperity in the city by fostering the attraction and creation of new investment, innovation, and jobs. www.yesvirginiabeach.com