COVID Recovery Grant for Historic Building Improvement Program

The City of Littleton is excited to announce an expanded grant program for our Downtown Historic District! The City will administer a COVID Recovery Fund to support small businesses in our Downtown Historic District as they continue to adapt to and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds have been allocated to the Downtown Historic District to support internal and external building structure improvements. This is a separate fund from our annual Downtown Historic District Fund, and requires a separate application.

All commercial properties within the Downtown Historic District boundaries are eligible to apply for the COVID Recovery Fund for Historic Building Improvements. Both owners of the property and tenants of the property can apply, with the owner’s consent. View detailed eligibility guidelines below.

  Downtown Historic District Boundary Map   

 

Application Process

Step 1.What do you need for your application?

All applications must be completed using the online application form. This form cannot be saved and completed at a later time, so please only fill out when you are ready to submit and have all of the required documentation requested below:

1. Completed and Signed W-9 Form

2. SAM.gov entity or reference number. (Registration for SAM must be completed in advance of submission at this link)

3. Current Certificate of Good Standing from the Colorado Secretary of State's Office. 

a. You may obtain a Certificate of Good Standing or Certificate of Fact of Trade Name for your business at this link. If your certificate is expired or delinquent, you may update the status using the appropriate form found at this link. Search for your business name, click on the ID Number, select "Confirm" (authorized to make changes) and "File Periodic Report." Call the Secretary of State's office or email: business@coloradosos.gov with questions.

4. A signed Letter of Intent, attached as PDF, which includes the following:

a. Narrative of how the small business has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, the following:

i. Financial hardship of a project, such as inflation, trades unavailability, project estimate increases, and supply chain issues;

ii. Maintenance of existing building, Covid-impacted or related equipment, and facilities;

b. Narrative of the proposed scope of work, including a time frame for completion;

c. Historic photographs of the property, including the section where the proposed work will be performed (if available);

d. Photographs of the existing building, noting any areas where work will be performed. If repair or maintenance work is proposed, please provide photographs highlighting the existing conditions of the building where work will be performed;

e. Proposed budget for the work, including three or more contractor bids for the proposed work. If contractor bids were not obtained or the applicant does not have the proper documentation, please provide an explanation. Additionally, please describe if there are any matching or in-kind contributions that will be provided to the business by another funding source.

5. If the Applicant is not the sole owner of the property or is a tenant of the property, the Applicant must upload a signed letter by the property owner(s) consenting to or joining in the application for the Grant funds. 

Step 2.What happens after my project is awarded?

COVID Recovery Grant monies are mailed to payee on W-9 Form upon completion of the project. The Grantee must execute an agreement with the City outlining the terms and conditions of the grant prior to release of any grant funds. The Grantee will be subject to the agreement executed with the City, which will include information regarding any necessary documentation on proof of payment for disbursement of the Grant funds. Project costs must be incurred by December 31, 2024. 

Who can apply for COVID Recovery Grant for Historic Building Improvement funding?

Grant Eligibility

Small businesses, including sole proprietorships, or enterprises (including LLCs, S-Corps, and other business types) that meet the following requirements will be considered for a grant award.

  • Must be a privately-held commercial business, physically located within the Downtown Historic District boundaries, as those boundaries are defined at the time of application. As the source of funds arises out of the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), marijuana industry businesses are ineligible for award.
  • Must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and in good standing, evidenced back to March 3, 2021.
  • Must have a valid, current, and unexpired business license with the City of Littleton. The applicant will be required to provide their business/sales tax license number and either a federal EIN, a Tax ID number, or ITIN.
  • Must be compliant with all City of Littleton, state, and federal licensing and taxing authorities.
  • Funds must be used for costs incurred on or after March 3, 2021.

What types of projects are eligible?

The purpose of the COVID-19 Recovery Fund is to support the growth and vitality of the businesses, and preservation of the historic structures, in the downtown historic district. The COVID-19 Recovery Fund requires that the City award funds to small businesses responding to "the public health emergency with respect to COVID 19 or its negative economic impacts." Please note that certain scopes of work may require approval from the Historical Preservation Board. Please see Chapter 8 and Article 10-9-8 of the Littleton City Code.

Eligible improvements covered by this fund should fall under at least one of the categories below:

  • Interior improvements for an existing property

  • Building modifications to accommodate new uses to fill vacanies

  • Physical changes to exterior sitework

  • Other (Must explain why your project should be considered eligible, but not fall under one of the three categories above)

How is a project selected for funding?

  • Awards will be determined administratively by a committee staffed by City of Littleton employees. The applications will be awarded to high-impact projects by small businesses with a strong and documented nexus responding to "the public health emergency with respect to COVID 19 or its negative economic impacts."
  • Projects may be awarded up to 80% of eligible project costs, with a 20% match from applicants.
  • Funds are awarded on a rolling basis. Under the SLFRF (federal guidelines), funds must be used for costs incurred on or after March 3, 2021. Costs must be obligated by December 31, 2024.
  • Not all projects will be funded and there is no guarantee of full funding being awarded.

May I apply for more than one city-sponsored grant?

There are separate applications and funds for each city-sponsored grant. If applying for more than one, be sure to have separate budgets and bids for the segments of work that you are requesting to be funded by each grant fund. If more than one city grant is awarded to your property, you will also need separate invoices and payment receipts for submittal, and note that different grants may also have different grant coordinators.