Commission expands façade grant eligibility to include properly permitted work completed within two years

The Michigan City Redevelopment Commission on March 9 approved a change to the façade grant program to allow a two-year "look-back" period for properly permitted work that had not previously been submitted for grant consideration.

Skyler explained the proposed addition to the grant terms: "The commission may consider properly permitted work that was completed within the past 2 year period but was not submitted to the grant program," he read, emphasizing that all work still must comply with the program’s criteria and require documentation such as permits and receipts.

Commissioners and staff said the intent is to help property owners who completed eligible work without applying at the time, while still ensuring compliance with permits and any historic-district review. One commissioner (speaker 7) reminded applicants must still provide financial documentation and receipts before a request is considered.

The commission approved the two-year look-back revision by voice vote. Skyler and commissioners noted that applicants in historic districts must still seek historic-district approvals and that lack of required permits or receipts could make a project ineligible.

What’s next
Staff will update the façade grant program materials and application forms to reflect the two-year look-back and continue to require documentation of permits, approvals and project costs.