City of Dearborn opens applications for Warren Ave facade improvement program

Published Dec. 3, 2024

The City of Dearborn Economic Development Department and Warren Avenue Business District Improvement Authority (WBDIA) will begin accepting business applications for the Warren Avenue Facade Improvement Program (WFIP) today, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. The initiative awards up to $200,000 in grant funding to selected businesses located along the business corridor between Lonyo Ave and Greenfield Rd to improve the exterior facade of their property.

Interested businesses can apply online at Dearborn.gov/WarrenTransformation. Funding will be awarded annually, with rolling application windows. Applications received by Jan. 24, 2025, at 5 p.m. will be considered for the first round of funding.

Dearborn Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud stated, “For generations, Warren Avenue has been at the heart of entrepreneurial spirit in our city. With this ambitious program, we look forward to partnering with our small businesses to both preserve and enhance one of the City’s key commercial corridors and ensure it continues to be a gateway to economic mobility for generations to come.”

By improving the aesthetics of storefronts, the program strives to benefit businesses, residents, and visitors alike, by accomplishing the following:

Create a more attractive and inviting commercial corridor for residents and visitors.
Encourage existing businesses to stay and attract new investment along the corridor.
Enhance amenities that contribute to a walkable and livable community.
Stimulate economic growth and job creation.
Increase property values and foot traffic for businesses.

WBDIA Chairperson Ahmed Chabbani added, “We believe the WFIP will be a valuable resource for the businesses to enhance their storefronts and attract more customers."

Utilizing funding from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City will issue grants that cover up to 90 percent of eligible improvement costs, with a maximum of $100,000 for smaller building facades and $200,000 for larger properties (more than 5,000 square feet).

Businesses are required to contribute a minimum of 10 percent of the project cost, inclusive of a down payment of $5,000 for smaller facades, and $10,000 for larger ones.

Dearborn Economic Development Director Jordan Twardy stated, “Our investment in Facade Improvement is a key component of our commitment to helping businesses on Warren Avenue thrive, and is paired with more than $31M being invested in the transformation of the Warren streetscape."

In addition to the Warren Ave Facade Improvement Program, the City will make historic investments in all new streetscape improvements and landscape features to create a cohesive visual experience across the corridor and improve roadway safety. Funding for the project comes from a multi-million dollar Safe Streets for All grant awarded to the City by the U.S. Department of Transportation in December 2023.

Facade improvement funding will be awarded to selected businesses, in part, based on the alignment of their proposal with the Warren Avenue corridor design guidelines recently adopted by the WBDIA. Proposals that demonstrate the most significant impact on the community and the aesthetics of the corridor will be prioritized for selection. Businesses will be encouraged to choose facade elements that speak to the corridor’s cultural history.

For more information about the Warren Avenue Facade Improvement Program, eligibility requirements, and the application process, visit Dearborn.gov and follow @DearbornGov on Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram for updates.

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