Streetscape Grant Program

What is a streetscape?
The streetscape is that part of the street right-of-way between the face of the curb and the building. The brick or concrete sidewalks, street lights, street trees and other elements have established an identity for the downtown core. The improved streetscapes have provided a setting for community events, for the development of adjoining private property, and for the everyday interaction of visitors and those who frequent downtown.

There are eight downtown streetscape types. Go to Streetscape Specifications to determine what type of streetscape is required for your project.

How does the grant program work?
CCDC offers a streetscape grant program for qualifying projects. The amount of the grant is determined by one-half the streetscape cost not to exceed a capped amount. The cap is determined by the annual budget amount and number of competing projects. All projects are eligible for application.

How do I apply?

1. Contact Katina Dutton (kdutton@ccdcboise.com; 384-4264) in CCDC’s development department for application cut-off dates.
2. Download and complete the application materials and follow submittal requirements on the application. If your project is a streetscape only project (no building permit is required), please download, fill out and submit a Zoning Certificate Application as well.

What do I do to receive the grant money?

1. Schedule a pre-construction meeting with CCDC and your general contractor two weeks prior to construction.
2. After your project is complete:
   • Notify CCDC in writing
   • Submit final invoices within 30 days of project completion
3. After inspection, CCDC pays the grant within 90 days of the submittals above

Why does CCDC offer the Streetscape Grant Program?
CCDC’s Streetscape Grant Program assists developers and property owners in making improvements to sidewalks, street trees, historic street lights and other elements of the streetscape. The Streetscape Grant Program provides a rational and systematic approach to streetscape project assistance. Enhanced streetscapes are prominent among the projects listed in the urban renewal plans the Boise City Council has adopted for each of the three urban renewal districts. The grant program is intended to be relatively simple, fair and efficient. Other program objectives are:

• To ease the cost burden of developers and property owners regarding downtown projects.
• To encourage enhancement to streetscape in locations and under conditions where streetscape enhancements would not occur without financial assistance
• To preserve CCDC’s capacity to fund other capital projects and agency initiatives.
• To coordinate CCDC’s project assistance with the budget cycle.

Regardless of the project’s characteristics, the grant program makes no guarantee a grant will be awarded to the applicant. Grant awards are dependent on CCDC’s annual budget and whether funds are allocated to the grant program for each of the urban renewal districts. In order to qualify for a grant, the streetscape project and corresponding development project, shall be found to implement the urban renewal plan or be consistent with the plan. The project shall be found to comply sufficiently with the Downtown Boise Design Goals and Objectives and, more generally, further the development of a compact and concentrated downtown characterized by mixed-use and pedestrian-oriented design.