About the Downtown Façade Grant:

The purpose of the Façade Grant is to stimulate investment into the revitalization and preservation of Albany’s historic downtown area in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare. Downtown Albany is the historic core of the city and serves as the seat of business, government, and service for the community. With downtown architecture ranging from the 1830s to the present, downtown is the heart of the Albany Historic District, and its pedestrian focus and historic buildings invite both residents and tourists. Each downtown building has an individual character, and each building is treated with respect for its unique features, historic appearance and significance, current condition, and contribution and impact.

This grant provides awards up to $5,000 for the exterior improvement of a storefront and/or signage. Eligible projects must be located in the designated Downtown Central Business District. Potentially eligible participants include commercial property owners or business owners.

Eligible work includes:

• Exterior painting. Colors must be approved by Application Review Team - Restoration of original and/or historic façade.
• Exterior Lighting and lighting fixtures
• Canopies and awnings. Colors must be approved by the Application Review Team
• Masonry cleaning (only by the gentlest means possible)
• Exterior walls/materials - replacement/uncovering of architectural features
• Structural stabilization - replacement of non-historic storefronts/buildings (demolition)
• Removal of non-compliant and old signs. Signs must be approved by the Application Review Team
• Window and Door replacement

Please be sure to contact the Historic Preservation Commission and Code Enforcement to determine what Façade updates can be made for your property/business. You may also contact, the Downtown Office at 229-483-7665.

City of Albany Code Enforcement:

City of Albany Planning and Development Services/ Historic Preservation Commission:

Contact Number: 229-438-3901

Other Historic Preservation Commission Information

Step 1: Getting Started

• Review the application information
• Make sure your business is located in the Central Business District (See map on application)
• Make sure you are able to provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance if your application is approved.
• Call Code Enforcement and the City of Albany Planning and Development Services to determine what façade updates need/can be made (See above for contacts & information).
• Have a copy of your business license/ City of Albany & Dougherty County Tax Certificate with the business's Downtown address.
• If you are not the owner of the building, please download this Property Owner Consent Letter to be filled out and signed by the property owner in order to make façade changes to the property. You will need to attach this to your online application. 
• Take pictures of the current storefront.
• For each project you want to complete, please provide 2 itemized estimates, each by licensed business owners who have a certificate of insurance. Make sure to get the same items estimated for each project. When getting estimates please include schematics of the work that will be done and colors being used.
• Before filling out this application, please print the Authorization Letter that will need to be signed by the applicant and the property owner in order to complete your application.

Step 2: Fill out the CLICK HERE- ONLINE APPLICATION  and attach all of your collected information.

Step 3: Once your application has been processed and approved you will be notified by the Downtown Manager's Office. You will then be asked to provide the following information:

• Provide a Certificate of Insurance in which ADICA is the certificate holder:

  Albany Dougherty Inner-City Authority (ADICA)

  401 Pine Ave, 2nd Floor

  Albany GA, 31701

• An additional Insured Endorsement naming ADICA (General Liability)
• Once you have submitted your insurance information, an Indemnity Agreement will then be sent for you to sign.

After the Downtown Manager's Office has received all information needed from the chosen vendors, a notice to proceed will be sent to the contractor/vendor outlining the vendor has 30 days to complete the project. 

Step 5: Send pictures of the Final Project to the Downtown Manager's Office.