The Commercial Façade Improvement (CFI) Matching Grant Program is administered by the City of Santa Monica with funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This initiative is designed to support the enhancement of storefronts for small businesses, particularly those located in low- and moderate-income (LMI) areas of the city. The primary goal is to improve public/private investment partnerships by facilitating aesthetic and security improvements to commercial properties, thereby fostering community safety and vitality.
Targeted specifically at brick-and-mortar small businesses along Pico Boulevard, the program offers matching grant funding for exterior improvements such as signage, lighting, glass, doors, ADA entryways, and security equipment. These upgrades must align with the recommendations of the Santa Monica Police Department's Crime Prevention Team, which offers complimentary safety assessments. Businesses may receive up to $10,000 in reimbursable funding, matched dollar for dollar against the business owner's investment.
To qualify, applicants must operate a small business within the designated area with valid licensing and annual revenues under $2,000,000. Priority is granted to minority-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned enterprises. Preference is also given to applicants who utilize local Santa Monica vendors for project implementation. Selected grantees must serve LMI clientele or be located in LMI-designated census tracts as defined by the 2020 HUD guidelines.
The grant application process requires submission of several components, including a signed application form, photographs of the current site, detailed improvement plans, and a minimum of two cost estimates specifying labor and material breakdowns. These materials must be submitted via email to econdev@santamonica.gov.
Key dates include the application opening on January 15, 2025, which coincides with an informational meeting at the Pico Branch Library Annex. The application period will remain open until funds are exhausted. The timeline allows one year for project completion following grant award, with reimbursement provided post-inspection and verification of consistent execution with the approved proposal.
All grants are contingent on fund availability, and while applications submitted after fund exhaustion will be retained for 12 months, future funding cycles are not guaranteed. Contact Halima Barreto at halima.barreto@santamonica.gov for safety assessments or other inquiries.
