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Building Interior Improvement Grant Program

Note: Grant Applications are due by August 31st, 2025.

About the Program

Main Street Historic Chestertown (MSHC), with funding from the Community Legacy program administered by the State of Maryland’s Department of Housing and Community Development, offers matching grants for building interior improvements made to commercial buildings in the historic downtown district.

Building off of Main Street Chestertown’s successful Facade Improvement Grant Program, these funds allow us to create a Building Interior Grant Program. Our current Facade Program does not allow for any interior or non-public way improvements to be funded. However, now that our buildings are getting facelifts, owners are turning to the interiors, which require costly repairs. These funds are now available for tenants/property owners who wish to improve a historic building with a project that goes beyond cosmetic, and maintains the building for many years to come.

Main Street Chestertown currently offers grants to cover up to 50 percent of the total cost of building interior improvement project, with a minimum grant amount of $2,000 and a maximum grant amount of $20,000. In addition, the program will provide a 100 percent match for the first $1,000 of improvements. That means if an applicant plans a $4,000 improvement to a building interior, Main Street could grant as much as $2,500 toward the project.

NOTE: Each funding period is based on monies received from external funding sources. Therefore, if external funding is low, less expensive projects will be given higher priority.

NOTE: Work completed prior to a letter of commitment is not eligible for funding. The Building Interior Improvement Project is administered by MSHC Design Committee Review Panel a group of volunteers with expertise in areas that include real estate, design, and preservation.

Who Can Apply?

The Main Street program focuses on the revitalization of the historic downtown commercial district and it operates within the boundaries of the Historic District.

Any owner of a commercial building in the Historic District, or a store owner/tenant of a commercial building in the District who has obtained the required authorization from the property owner, can apply for funding, with some notable exceptions:

According to conditions set in our funding agreement with the State, we cannot approve grants to active religious institutions, pawn shops, gun shops, tanning salons, massage parlors, adult video/book shop, adult entertainment facilities, check-cashing facilities, gambling facilities, tattoo parlors or liquor stores.

What kind of work is covered?

The program gives the highest consideration to projects that improve the function, use and safety of the interior spaces of downtown buildings. We encourage applicants to go beyond basic maintenance and make noticeable interior improvements.

Examples of work that is covered include:

  • Interior ADA Compliance
  • Structural Repairs
  • Interior Masonry Repairs
  • Insulation
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Interior Air Quality and Moisture Control
  • Emergency Egress/Emergency Egress Lighting
  • Interior Lighting
  • General Building Code Compliance and/or fire safety/sprinkler Systems
  • Building code upgrade requirements (e.g. fire safety/sprinkler systems) necessary to
  • convert the use of 2nd or 3rd floors from commercial to residential or from
  • residential to commercial.
  • Other improvements that are necessary to convert the use of 2nd or 3rd floors from
  • commercial to residential or from residential to commercial.

Examples of work NOT covered include, but are not limited to

  • Interior paint
  • Decorative finishes
  • Fixtures & Furnishings
  • Other general aesthetic upgrades

    • General Guidelines

    Preference will be given to projects that will restore a building’s historical integrity, improve the function, use and safety of the building interior. The Design Committee Review Panel may favor projects that include professional design expertise.

    Applicants must own the commercial property specified on the application or be a business that leases space in the building and obtains the required authorization from the building owner as part of the application process.

    Once an application is approved, it cannot be modified. If the costs of the project change after an award letter is sent, additional funds cannot be requested. Reimbursements will be based on actual project costs, not including in-kind labor or donated materials, up to the approved amount.

     

    How to Apply

    Each year, Main Street Chestertown will determine a 30-day application period, during which it will accept applications for Building Interior Grants.

    Main Street Chestertown will post the application period and necessary application documents on our website at www.mainstreetchestertown.org/interior.

    Interested businesses/ property owners may also contact Main Street Chestertown for more information or updates at director@mainstreetchestertown.org or by calling (410) 778-2991.

    Applicants must submit the following:

    • The two-page application.
    • Two or more color photographs of the proposed improvement(s).
    • Detailed drawings of the proposed renovations/improvements.
    • Two or more bids on letterhead from licensed and insured contractors.

    Within 30 days of the end of the application period, the Design Committee Review Panel will make a decision to a) approve b) reject or c) suggest revisions to the proposed changes.

    Once approved by the Design Committee Review Panel, the applicant should submit the plans to Chestertown Planning & Zoning for the required building permit. Any revisions required by the

    Planning & Zoning Commission should be forwarded to the Design Committee Review Panel.

    The applicant will be responsible for obtaining all the necessary building and work permits for the project and for conforming to applicable safety standards. A copy of the building permit must be

    received by Main Street Historic Chestertown to be eligible to receive the grant funds.

    Renovation projects must be started within six months of the time of approval and completed within one year from the start of construction.

    Once the project has been completed, the applicant will present proof of expenses (canceled checks, paid invoices, contractor’s sworn statements, etc.) to the Main Street office for reimbursement, up to the amount the applicant was approved. To qualify for reimbursement, the work must conform to the descriptions in the approved application. A site visit at the end of the project will be made by members of the Design Committee Review Panel to verify conformance.

    With the above requirements successfully met, Main Street Historic Chestertown issues the check to the applicant along with a letter of completion. Once the check has been cashed, Main Street submits its own reimbursement request to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.

    Download Application