I. What is the Lighting of Commercial Buildings Matching Grant Program?
The Decorative Lighting of Commercial Buildings Matching Grant Program helps business owners fund lighting projects by providing a dollar for dollar match from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,000. The program gives business owners an incentive to complete a lighting project that contributes to making McAllen a more attractive city.
Proposed projects must:
- improve/beautify a business by making façade lighting improvements with commercial grade lights
- have long-standing benefits
- be located visible from a public street
- have the necessary electrical permits before starting the improvements and
- maintain improvement on good working order
II. Who can participate in the Program?
Business or property owner of a commercial property along major city thoroughfares listed below:
- 10th Street
- Pecan
- McColl Road
- Business 83
- 23rd Street
- Nolana
- Ware Road
- Trenton
III. How does the Match work?
The Lighting of Commercial Buildings Matching Grant Program operates under a reimbursement system. The grant money represents a partnership between the City and a business owner which must raise funds before any City reimbursements will be disbursed. The City will reimburse the business owner 50% (from a minimum of $1,000 to a maximum of $5,000) of the total project expenditures. Funding under this program will be available to a business owner on a first-come first-serve basis until funds are exhausted in the fiscal year.
The lighting improvements must be properly operating for a minimum period of five years. Failure to do so will result in legal action from the city to recover its investment.
IV. What type of projects can be funded and what are the basic requirements?
The program helps pay for lighting of building facades improvements on private property that provide tangible benefits to the community. Projects already completed or underway are not eligible for grant funding.
V. How to apply:
The application [PDF] must be filled-out with information about the business and a project description.
VI. When may projects be started and what is the project completion date?
In order to take advantage of this program, a project may be started only after the application has been approved by the City Manager or his/her designee. The project must be completed by the following September 1 after the application has been approved.
VII. How are funds disbursed to grantees?
The grant application must be approved by the City Manager or his/her designee. A letter of application approval serves as a notice to the business owner to proceed with the project. Once the project is completed, the City will conduct an inspection to verify the work is complete as per the approved landscaping plan. Once verification takes place the matching grant reimbursement to the business owner will be processed. Reimbursements in full amount of the approved matching funds will be made within 30 calendar days of inspection and final approval. No reimbursements for eligible expenses will be made if such expenses occur before an application is approved by the City Manager or his/her designee.
VIII. Who do we contact for more information?
Please call the Planning Department at (956) 681-1250.