Uptown Business Facade Grants Open
From Uptown Association:
We’re excited to share that the 2026 Great Streets Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program is now open for Uptown businesses.
Uptown Association (UA) serves as the program administrator for our district and provides hands-on support throughout the entire process — from project review to City submission and reimbursement coordination.
If you are interested in applying or would like to schedule a project review meeting, contact Uptown Association and we’ll guide you through the next steps. Let’s continue building a stronger Uptown together.
Uptown Association Façade Grants
info@uptownminneapolis.com •(612) 823-4581
Eligibility
To participate in the Uptown district program, businesses must:
Be located within the eligible Uptown business district
Be a property owner or commercial tenant (with landlord approval)
Be current on property taxes (if owner)
Grant Amounts & Match
Grant maximums vary by area designation:
Eligible Areas: Up to $5,000 per storefront (1:2 match)
Priority Areas: Up to $7,500 (1:1 match)
Cultural Districts: Up to $10,000 (1:0.5 match)
This is a reimbursement program, meaning you must complete and pay for the private match before receiving grant funds.
Application Requirements
Your application must include:
Written project description
Before photos
Project drawings or visuals/mocks
Two (2) contractor bids for identical scopes of work
Projects totaling less than $5,000 require only one bid. Murals require only one bid. Grant awards are based on the lower of the submitted bids (though you may choose either contractor).
Eligible Improvements May Include
Exterior painting or siding
Masonry repair & tuckpointing
Window and door replacement
Awnings and canopies
Exterior signage
Lighting improvements
Removal of architectural barriers
Murals
(All improvements must be visible from a public street and comply with City permitting requirements.)