Benton Economic Partnership Helps the City of Foley Provide Façade Improvement Grants in 2025 and Beyond

The Benton Economic Partnership (BEP) recently helped the City of Foley, Minnesota, develop a façade improvement grant to help local businesses fund renovation projects. The initial pilot grants offered 1:1 matching up to $5,000 for downtown businesses to improve their exteriors – making the area more inviting to customers. After a successful pilot program, Foley announced its plans to continue offering these grants to benefit even more businesses in the area.

“We budgeted another $20,000 in city funds for 2025 and are applying for additional grants for potential future funding,” says Sarah Brunn, City Administrator for the City of Foley. “We are encouraging people to apply now so they start on the project as soon as the warmer weather comes around.”

Read more about the façade improvement grant program and the great work it’s already doing.

The Façade Improvement Grant is Designed to Revitalize Downtown Foley

The goal of the façade improvement grant is to provide incentives to stimulate external, visible investment in downtown businesses. This would boost the vitality of downtown as more customers were attracted to the local shops. Qualifying projects will be reviewed by the Foley Economic Development Authority (EDA) and then receive final action from the City Council.

Property owners and business owners who apply for these grants are encouraged to consider improvements that incorporate the surrounding community. This includes – but is not limited to – the aesthetics, environment, cultural and historic elements, and architecture. The goal is to create a cohesive, attractive environment with surrounding properties. For example, a business could use the grant to improve signage, repaint, add awnings to improve the overall aesthetic or invest in landscaping.  

“There are beautiful brick buildings downtown, but some of them need a little care,” says Brunn. “These grants have already been used to repaint, fund awnings, and even invest in planters around storefronts.”

Brunn says that these grants have stimulated considerable investment in downtown Foley. For every $1 they distribute in grants, business owners have contributed $2.95 of their own money, even though the requirement is only 1:1. Many businesses had wanted to make these improvements before the program started, and the grant money provided the financial incentive and motivation they needed. 

The Program Currently Supports Downtown Foley Businesses

The City of Foley is focused on businesses on 4th Avenue North (from John Street to Main Street) and businesses on Dewey Street (from 3rd Avenue to Broadway Avenue N) for grant considerations. These are key downtown streets that attract shoppers and other visitors to Foley. Business owners in this target area can learn more about the application process if they are interested in improving their façades.

“If we get a lot of success in that corridor, we might expand a block or two,” says Brunn. “But there’s a lot of work we want to do on this main corridor first.”  
There could potentially be opportunities in the future to expand the map as more grant recipients apply or request support. Local businesses can contact the City of Foley EDA if they have any questions or need help with the application process.  

“We intentionally made the application simple,” says Brunn. “It goes through the EDA approval process, and then the business signs the grant agreement,” This agreement ensures the funds are used as they were applied for. The grant recipient submits receipts to show what they paid for and then the EDA takes photos. This whole process can be done in a few months if the business wants to move quickly. 

Façade Improvements Support Long-Term Business Growth

This new grant program highlights how committed the Foley is to long-term growth. Fresh paint and signage can last for several years, while landscaping improvements (like planting trees) only grow in value. Downtown Foley businesses might see an immediate bump in sales from these changes, but improving the streets as a whole can have long-term effects.

“Our downtown has seen some transition as of late, so now is the time to support the existing businesses and the future growth of Foley,” says Brunn. “We are also on the cusp of some future growth, so we want to make sure our downtown is welcoming and accessible to new residents and businesses that move here.”

The façade improvement grants could create a snowball effect that benefits Downtown Foley, and city residents as a whole, for decades to come. 

BEP Works With Local Communities to Develop Programs and Grants

BEP works with towns and cities throughout the county to make their communities stronger. The façade improvement grant is just one example of BEP using its knowledge and resources to make the City of Foley better. BEP also shares business resources, promotes workforce development programs, and tracks the housing needs of the county. When one town gets stronger, the surrounding communities also benefit, and Benton County becomes an even better place to live. 

Learn more about the Benton Economic Partnership and consider becoming a member today. Your investment in Benton County makes neighborhood businesses, residents, and community organizations stronger.