Commercial District Improvement Program

An important aspect of upgrading the image of a commercial district is improving its physical appearance. Downtown businesses can benefit from a program that helps them to improve and renovate their buildings. Communities can develop a nonresidential improvement program that focuses on evaluating and financing improvements of existing nonresidential buildings, such as façade improvements. Such programs can offer low- or zero-interest loans for façade improvement, masonry repair, window and storm window repair, roof repair, and the exterior rehabilitation of upper stories that contain apartments.

One example of this type of program is the Tompkins County Commercial Center Revitalization Program, which assists rural commercial centers in Tompkins County in planning for, and implementing, improvements to the exterior public spaces located in commercial centers throughout the County. This program is funded by Tompkins County and administered by the Planning Department.