Beautification grants are crucial to enhancing public spaces and improving the quality of life in small communities.
Beautification projects improve public spaces. Landscaping, maintenance, streetscaping, signage, lighting, parking and public art enhance communities. They may also help to improve traffic flow, preserve historic buildings and upgrade parks and open spaces. Improving aesthetics benefits the public, but the expense can deter smaller municipalities from starting these projects.
Beautification grants offer vital funding to small towns in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, enhancing public spaces and improving the quality of life for generations. Below are some funding options available in these states.
Beautification grants for small towns in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin
Federal and state beautification grants to facilitate revitalization within small towns across Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Below are funding options available in these states.
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Beautification grants for small towns in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin
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Illinois
- Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant:
Administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR), this grant provides funding assistance to local governments for acquiring and developing land for public parks and open spaces. Eligible projects include:
- Land acquisition. Money is available to purchase land for new parks, expand parks, provide water frontage, facilitate nature studies and preserve natural resources.
- Development and renovation. This grant supports developing and renovating recreational facilities, like picnic areas, playgrounds, sports courts, playfields, swimming pools and beaches, fishing piers, campgrounds, winter sports facilities and more.
- Park and Recreational Facilities Construction (PARC) grant:
Administered by the Illinois DNR this grant is available to local governments for acquiring and developing land for public parks and recreational facilities. Funding supports recreational and conservation lands and structures. Eligible projects include:
- Construction and expansion of recreation buildings, structures and facilities.
- General park maintenance for regional, community and neighborhood parks and sports fields.
- Frontage on public surface waters.
- Open space/conservation efforts.
- Recreational Trails Program (RTP):
This is administered by the Department of Transportation DOT)’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). It provides the funds to develop and maintain:
- Recreational trails.
- Facilities for motorized and nonmotorized trails.
- Rebuild Illinois Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Program (RDMS):
This program provides funding to revitalize commercial corridors and downtowns across Illinois. Eligible projects must be in a downtown area or commercial center and include:
- Roadways, parking and public way improvements.
- Investments in parks and venues/plazas.
- Sustainability upgrades.
- Structural repairs.
- Mixed-use or transit-oriented development.
- Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) grants:
This provides federal and state funding for projects that support alternate modes of transportation, preserve visual and cultural resources, and improve quality of life. Eligible beautification projects include:
- Pedestrian/ bicycle facilities and sidewalks.
- Streetscapes.
- Conversion of abandoned railroad corridors to trails.
- Vegetation management in transportation rights of way.
- Preservation and rehabilitation of historic transportation facilities.
- Turnout construction, overlooks and other viewing areas.
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Iowa
- Transportation Alternatives Program:
The Iowa DOT funds various smaller-scale transportation projects through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP). This includes:
- Pedestrian/ bicycle facilities and sidewalks.
- Safe routes to school.
- Recreational trails.
- Community improvements, such as historic preservation, vegetation management and environmental mitigation, related to stormwater and habitat connectivity.
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Wisconsin
- Community Improvement Project (CIP) Grants:
These grants promote community activities and sustainability projects, such as revitalizing and beautifying community spaces and creating murals.
- Not eligible for nonprofit business, commercial or personal property improvements.
- Facade Rehabilitation Grant Program:
This program provides funds to support exterior improvements to commercial property. It promotes growth and development by helping small business owners transform their commercial buildings into vibrant spaces. Interior projects and residential properties are not eligible.
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Understanding the complexities of grant funding is essential for communities hoping to maximize opportunities. Programs like PARC and Rebuild Illinois RDMS are not offered annually, making it crucial to act when funding is available. Partnering with a grant funding expert ensures you can navigate these opportunities effectively, increasing your chances of success and securing resources for your community.
How Fehr Graham can help small towns secure beautification grants
At Fehr Graham, we help communities across Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin secure funding for beautification projects. We work closely with regulatory agencies to customize competitive applications and secure maximum funding. Our expertise helps you identify beautification grants for small towns, complete a thorough application and help meet post-award requirements.
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Fehr Graham Senior Community Development Specialist Bridgette Stocks serves as the principal contact for all funding-related programs, navigating complicated rules and regulations to secure maximum dollars. She is a vital partner when it comes to strengthening communities to provide resilient and critical infrastructure. Her success speaks for itself – she has secured more than $200 million for Fehr Graham clients. She can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. |
