Applications for the city’s business beautification grant are now open, and the city is making a minor but intentional change. Helen West, the city’s community and economic development specialist, said the adjustment aims to spread funds more evenly among local businesses.
“If a business received the maximum reimbursement of the $3,000 in the previous grant year, they can apply at any time, but in order to diversify the funding, we might not look at those requests until the second round of funding or put them in the very end for awarding,” West said.
The change only applies to last year’s awards that reached the maximum amount.
The business beautification grant offers a 50% matching reimbursement of up to $3,000 for eligible facade improvements for Cortez businesses and nonprofit groups. Project options include capital improvements, new signage, paint, windows, awnings or decorative enhancements such as flowers or seasonal paint and window displays.
The city is also rolling out applications for other grant initiatives. Funding options include the beautification grant, a reimbursement program for graffiti removal and the 81321 Launch arts mini‑grant, which supports public creative projects.
This year’s beautification grant approval process includes three application rounds, with deadlines from March through July. A potential fourth deadline is slated for September as long as funds last. West said they always encourage people to apply early.
“Once that money is spoken for, that’s it,” she said. “While we intend to have three rounds of funding, if everybody submits their applications this first round and we allocate all that funding, we won’t have a round two or a round three.”
The program operates as a reimbursement grant, meaning businesses must complete approved projects and then submit invoices to receive city funds.
“I want to be really clear,” West said. “They have to go spend the money, turn in invoices and we the city reimburse 50% of those invoices as long as those invoices were included in the original grant application and the award.”
For example, a business awarded $100 toward flowers would need to spend $200 and then submit receipts for reimbursement of half that amount. Projects in 2024 included Stonefish Sushi’s new sign, window decals for Sew by SO, investments for Love on a Hanger’s outdoor wine barrels and seasonal plants, KFR Graphics’ new windows and the “Cortez” mural for First Southwest Bank.
West said last year’s entire budget of $30,000 was allocated.
“The city was really excited. Last year was the first time ever completely allocated all of our budget,” she said. “We just want to make sure that we’re diversifying that funding around the city and the same businesses aren’t receiving the maximum grant every single year so we’re spreading the wealth, so to speak.”
The program has evolved, West said.
“It started as a project actually out of the Parks and Recreation department, and it used to really only be the city would buy flowers and give them to businesses,” she said. “While flowers are really pretty, a lot of our businesses need help doing larger facade improvements.”
Funding for the beautification grants comes from the city’s lodging tax, which fluctuates year to year based on tourism.
“More people stay in Cortez, the more money we have to spend on beautification the next year,” West said, noting the funds must generally be used for tourism‑related improvements and projects.
“We’re hoping that we have enough funding for everyone,” she said. “And we might.”
The city is also offering a graffiti cleanup grant, which provides a 50% reimbursement of up to $500 for commercial and industrial businesses that were impacted by graffiti. Find more information or to apply, visit: https://tinyurl.com/nograffiticortez
The 81321 Launch arts mini-grant, in partnership with the LOR foundation, provides up to $4,000 for creative projects. To apply for the mini-grant or find more information visit: https://81321launch.com/
