Storefront Improvement Program

The City of Somerville offers financial assistance and design guidance to business and retail property owners through the Storefront Improvement Program (SIP).  Through the program, property owners or merchants may be eligible for a 50% matching grant toward storefront renovations costs.  This program exist to keep our local business district vital, foster sustainability and to set a design standard for retail shops in Somerville.

Eligible improvement for SIP projects include repair of masonry or wood exterior, new signs, windows, doors, lighting, awnings, new ADA-compliant entryways and general repair of the exterior storefront visible from the public way.

The Sign/Lighting/Awning program is a smaller program designer for the owner/merchant who wishes to change only those components of the exterior.

The total rebate to the participant cannot exceed $35,000 toward construction renovations costs, and $5,000 for the Sign/Lighting/Awning program.

To be eligible for the programs, business and retail property owners must either:

• Serving CDBG-eligible area (See map)
• have five or fewer employees, including the proprietor (income eligibility review)
• or, create at least one full time job within 6-months of completion of the storefront improvement project.

for more information on the Storefront Improvement Program, please contact:

David Guzman
Economic Development Specialist
Phone: 617-625-6600 ext.2546
dguzman@somervillema.gov