Grant applications for the Knoxville Municipal Facade Improvement Program will open on March 23rd.

In 2022, the Knoxville City Council approved initial funding for the Municipal Façade Grant Program, allocating $115,000 from an unused economic development revolving loan fund and $50,000 from local option sales tax receipts. Since its inception, the program has approved 50 matching grants. Of those, 43 projects have been completed and seven remain in progress. To date, the city has reimbursed or committed $229,605 in matching grants, leveraging an estimated total private investment of $558,530 in building improvements. 

Two updates to the program in 2026 will include the implementation of a scoring matrix system, and revised eligible lighting costs. The program is available for facades in the downtown area, Pleasant Street, and the Highway 14 corridor. City Economic Development Director Christopher Watkins says he is excited for the program to continue.

“It’s been a great program. For four years the City of Knoxville has contributed a matching grant, one for one up to $10,000 for any building owner or tenant as long as the building owner agrees to improve the facade framework. That can include painting, windows, doors, all of those kinds of things anywhere in the downtown area, West Pleasant, and Highway 14. They are going to continue that program again which is exciting. They’ve had 43 complete and 50 applicants total.”

The application window will close on May 21st and for more information, rules, and the application, follow this link.