The Downtown Façade Improvement Program encourages property and business owners within the downtown to renovate their building fronts and exteriors visible to the public to add vibrancy and functionality, and promote more renovations and high quality exterior improvements. Project costs are shared by the Downtown SSMID Commission and the City of Cedar Rapids. The program has once again been funded through 2022 by the Downtown SSMID and the City of Cedar Rapids. To begin the application process and receive an initial consultation, download the program guidelines and reach out to Downtown District Program Manager Jennifar Bassett, at jbassett@cedarrapids.org.
In recent years the selection committee has put a special emphasis on exterior lighting with several projects have utilized the program to light up downtown Cedar Rapids in a big, bright way. Recently completed projects include the Cedar River Tower, Securian Financial, the Granby and BC buildings, Theatre Cedar Rapids, and the Arco building.
