Business Incentive Programs
- Commercial Exterior Grant Program
- Commercial Interior Grant Program
- Business Incentive Grant Application (at the bottom of this page)
Commercial Exterior Grant Program
Thank you for your interest in the Wilton Business Incentive Commercial Exterior Grant Program. The City of Wilton and Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance (WCDA) have set aside funding for the restoration or rehabilitation of exteriors of commercial buildings. The grant, which pays one-third of the costs relative to building improvements, covers a variety of exterior improvements from windows and doors to painting and signage.
Enclosed you will find a copy of the program overview, which lists eligible improvements and explains the application / review process, administrative procedures, details the information required with application, as well as the three-page grant application.
To become eligible for funding, please complete the application and return it and any proposed materials and design drawings, which must comply with the “Design Guidelines,” to the Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance office at your earliest convenience.
Upon receipt of your application, we will invite you to meet with the WCDA Executive Director and the City Administrator or their designee to discuss your project. Afterwards, this group will supply recommendations to the City Council, which will make the final determination of grant approval.
If we can be of further assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to call 563-299-4721 or submit an email message to ballgood@wiltoniowa.org.
Commercial Exterior Grant Program Overview
This is a grant program sponsored jointly by the City of Wilton and WDC to assist owners or renters for the restoration or rehabilitation of exterior walls on commercial buildings. A business owner may apply one (1) time for this program, per fiscal year, per individual building. If approved, a business owner can reapply for this program again for additional improvements no sooner than one year after the first approved project has been completed. New owners are eligible to apply immediately.
Matching Grant Awards
The applicant pays two-thirds of the costs and the City & WDC pay one-third of costs associated with approved exterior renovation. Maximum funding allowed is $4,500 per application for commercial exterior grant program.
The WDC Executive Director and the City Administrator, or their designee, reviews and recommends all projects, which must comply with the “Design Guidelines.” The City Council gives final approval for all grants.
Program Requirements
- Renters must have approval from building owner and hold a 3-year lease.
- Renovation or expansion must comply with City Code requirements and with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Business must present copies of related contracts and paid invoices for reimbursement of approved expenditures.
Façade - Max 1/3 of cost up to $4,500
The following improvements are eligible under the program:
- Additions to existing buildings
- Signage
- Brick cleaning, tuck pointing & sand blasting
- Exterior lighting
- Painting of exterior surfaces, with the exception of unpainted brick
- Preservation of elements appropriate to the design of the building
- Rear entrances
- Removal of elements inappropriate to the design of the building
- Roof improvements as a part of a comprehensive reconstruction project (Max $2,000)
- Storefront rehabilitation/restoration
- Window and/or door repair
Awning - Max 1/3 of cost up to $500
Ineligible Improvements
The following improvements are ineligible under the program:
- Water/sewer line hookups to city lines
- Real estate or business acquisition costs
- Interior remodeling, including the purchase of furnishings, equipment or other personal property that does not become part of the building
- Landscaping and site improvements
- Modifications or removal of architectural and historical features.
- Roof improvements (unless part of a comprehensive reconstruction project)
- Work already commenced prior to the application (unless it was of an emergency nature)
Application and Review Process
- The applicant submits the application to the WDC Director and City Administrator, or their designee, who will review the applicant’s request.
- This group will make a recommendation for or against the proposed project.
- The recommendation of this group will be reviewed by the City Council which will make the final decision on the application.
- The City Administrator notifies the applicant of the Council’s decision. If the grant was approved the city administrator gives approval for work to proceed.
- Upon satisfactory completion of the project, copies of all invoices, bids, affidavits, and waivers of liens will be submitted to the City Administrator. (There is a one-year time limit on the project.)
- If all the requirements listed above are satisfied, the City Administrator will prepare a payment voucher and the city clerk will issue a check in the amount of the grant.
Information Required with Application
- Narrative description of scope of work to be performed and various public benefits to result from the grant
- Estimates of the rehabilitation costs.
The policies, procedures and incentives described above may be revised by the City and WCDA at any time
without prior notice. The City and WCDA retain the exclusive right to change, add to, eliminate, or modify
the requirements and the incentives at any time at its discretion, with or without notice.
For more information, please contact either:
Rebekah Allgood, Executive Director
Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance
104 East 4th Street
Wilton, IA 52778
ballgood@wiltoniowa.org
Jeffrey Horne, City Administrator
City of Wilton
104 East 4th Street
Wilton, IA 52778
jhorne@wiltoniowa.org
Commercial Interior Grant Program
Thank you for your interest in the Wilton Business Incentive Commercial Interior Grant Program. The City of Wilton and the Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance (WCDA) have set aside funding for the restoration or rehabilitation of exteriors of commercial buildings. The grant, which pays one-third of the costs relative to building improvements, covers a variety of interior improvements from the installation of permanent fixtures to the preservation of historic elements appropriate to the building’s interior design, such as pressed metal ceilings.
Enclosed you will find a copy of the program overview, which lists eligible improvements and explains the application / review process, administrative procedures, details the information required with application, as well as the three-page grant application.
To become eligible for funding, please complete the application and return it and any proposed materials and design drawings, which must comply with the “Design Guidelines”, to the Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance office at your earliest convenience.
Upon receipt of your application, we will invite you to meet with the WCDA Executive Director and City Administrator, or their designee to discuss your project. Afterwards, this group will supply recommendations to the City Council, which will make the final determination of grant approval.
If we can be of further assistance in the meantime, please do not hesitate to call 563-299-4721 or submit an email message to ballgood@wiltoniowa.org.
Commercial Interior Grant Program Overview
This is a grant program sponsored jointly by the City of Wilton and WCDA to assist owners or renters for restoration, rehabilitation or remodeling interior space of commercial buildings in the downtown business district. A business owner may apply one (1) time for this program, per fiscal year, per individual building. If approved, a business owner can reapply for this program again for additional improvements no sooner than one year after the first approved project has been completed. New owners are eligible to apply immediately.
Matching Grant Awards
The applicant pays two-thirds of the costs and the City pays one-third of costs associated with approved exterior renovation. Maximum funding allowed is $4,500 per application for commercial interior grant program.
The WCDA Executive Director and City Administrator, or their designee, reviews and recommends all projects, which must comply with the “Design Guidelines.” The City Council gives final approval for all grants.
Program Requirements
- Renters must have approval from building owner and hold a 3-year lease.
- Renovation or expansion must comply with City Code requirements and with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Business must present copies of related contracts and paid invoices for reimbursement of approved expenditures.
Commercial Interior - Max 1/3 of cost up to $4,500
The following improvements are eligible under the program:
- Repair work to floors, walls, interior trim, and ceilings
- Upgrading/retrofitting mechanical systems (Electrical, plumbing, etc. above ground only)
- Demolition work
- Space reconfiguration
- Installation of permanent fixtures (lights, ceiling fans, toilets)
- Finishing work (i.e. painting, coverings for ceilings, walls, interior window trim, and floors)
- Preservation of elements appropriate to the design of the interior (i.e. pressed metal ceilings, wood floor surfaces)
HVAC – Max $300 for one unit $500 for both
Ineligible Improvements
The following improvements are ineligible under the program:
- Furnishings, fixtures, equipment, or other personal property that does not become a part of the building
- Soft costs (i.e. building permits, space plans, professional fees)
- Modifications or removal of unaltered architectural and historic features unless structurally needed
- Work already commenced prior to the application (unless it was of an emergency nature)
- Anything under basement floor/crawl space or outside building walls
Application and Review Process
- The applicant submits the application to the WCDA Director and City Administrator, or their designee, who will review the applicant’s request.
- This group will make a recommendation for or against the proposed project.
- The recommendation of this group will be reviewed by the City Council which will make the final decision on the application.
- The City Administrator notifies the applicant of the Council’s decision. If the grant was approved the city administrator gives approval for work to proceed.
- Upon satisfactory completion of the project, copies of all invoices, bids, affidavits, and waivers of liens will be submitted to the City Administrator. (There is a one-year time limit on the project.)
- If all the requirements listed above are satisfied, the City Administrator will prepare a payment voucher and the city clerk will issue a check in the amount of the grant.
Information Required with Application
- Narrative description of scope of work to be performed and various public benefits to result from the grant.
- Estimates of the rehabilitation costs.
The policies, procedures and incentives described above may be revised by the City and WCDA at any time without prior notice. The City and WCDA retain the exclusive right to change, add to, eliminate, or modify the requirements and the incentives at any time at its discretion, with or without notice.
For more information, please contact either:
Rebekah Allgood, Executive Director
Wilton Chamber & Development Alliance
104 East 4th Street
Wilton, IA 52778
ballgood@wiltoniowa.org
Jeffrey Horne, City Administrator
City of Wilton
104 East 4th Street
Wilton, IA 52778
jhorne@wiltoniowa.org
Download the grant application: