Small Business Facade Improvement Program (City of Richmond, California)
City of Richmond, California (administered with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center)
Up to $15,000 per address
Up to $15,000 per address for storefront exterior upgrades in three Richmond, CA neighborhoods. Funds are oversubscribed; new applications may be waitlisted.
Richmond's facade program gives grants of up to $15,000 per commercial address for exterior storefront work such as windows, doors, awnings, signage, painting and lighting. Only businesses in the Iron Triangle, Coronado and Santa Fe areas qualify, and the program has $300,000 in total. The city says the program stays open through December 2026 or until funds are awarded. As of its June 25, 2026 update, requests already exceed the $300,000, so new applications may go on a waiting list.
- Funding type
- Grant
- Level
- Municipal
- Amount
- $15,000
- Realistic amount
- Up to $15,000 per address, but funds are oversubscribed so new applications may be waitlisted.
- Deadline
- Open through December 2026, or until funds are fully awarded (no exact closing date published)
- Status
- active
- States
- CA
Who qualifies
- Ground-floor, street-facing retail or public-facing business, or qualifying nonprofit storefront open to the public, or owner of a vacant ground-floor commercial space who commits to leasing within six months
- Located in the Iron Triangle, Coronado or Santa Fe areas of Richmond
- 2024 business revenue of $2 million or less (may be verified)
- Active City of Richmond business license
- In good standing with the California Secretary of State
- Written landlord approval for improvements (tenants)
- Not eligible: home-based businesses and offices not open to the public
What it covers
Eligible expenses
- Windows and doors
- Awnings and canopies
- Signage
- Exterior painting
- Exterior lighting
- Storefront repairs
- Permit fees if the project proceeds
- Materials for self-performed work
Ineligible expenses
- Interior work
- Equipment purchases
- Landscaping or site work not attached to the building
- Routine maintenance or cleaning
- Debt service
- Labor for self-performed work
- Security-focused improvements that reduce transparency
How to apply
-
1
Check the map and eligibility
Confirm the address is in Iron Triangle, Coronado or Santa Fe and you have a city license.
~30 min
-
2
Collect documents
Project description, contractor bids or a materials list, landlord approval and a timeline.
~4 hrs
-
3
Apply online or through Renaissance
Renaissance reviews location, license and compliance, then issues a Conditional Approval Letter if funds remain.
~2 hrs
-
4
Permits and grant agreement
Pay for any permits, sign the grant agreement and send a W-9; start within 90 days and finish within 90 days of start.
~8 hrs
The city says requests already exceed the money, so ask Renaissance about waitlist position before paying for bids or permits.
Deadline & timing
Program launched December 29, 2025 and ends December 2026 or when funds are fully awarded. The June 25, 2026 update says requests exceed the $300,000 and new applications may be placed on a waiting list. Applications are handled by Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (eastbay@rencenter.org, 510-619-8668).
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Required documents
- Project description
- Contractor bid(s) or a detailed materials list with costs
- Written landlord approval if a tenant
- Estimated project timeline
- Grant Agreement and Acknowledgment
- W-9
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