Eighth Round City of Albany Small Business Facade Improvement Program Application Window Now Open

September 8, 2026

Applications are now available as part of the City of Albany Small Business Facade Improvement Program’s Round Eight  funding window with matching grants being made available to support small business owners citywide. The program can provide matching grants to assist eligible small businesses and not-for-profits with up to $10,000 for exterior renovations.

For an application and the program’s guidelines business owners can contact the City’s economic development organization Capitalize Albany Corporation at [email protected], or visit www.CapitalizeAlbany.com/Grants. Grant applications are due at 3 p.m. on October 22, 2026.

 “I am excited we are offering another round of facade improvement grants to small businesses,” said City of Albany Mayor Dr. Dorcey Applyrs. “Making an eighth round of funding available allows our small businesses to further thrive and participate in the ongoing revitalization that is occurring in neighborhoods across the City.”

“Small businesses are the backbone of our Capital Region economy, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and driving our area forward,” said Senator Patricia Fahy (D—Albany). “Investing in the success of our small businesses means ensuring that storefronts are welcoming, modern, and represent the best of what they have to offer our communities. I’m thrilled to see another round of Small Business Facade Improvement Program funding released and encourage our small businesses and non profits to apply!”

An announcement was made at City Hall on Tuesday with Mayor Applyrs and Capitalize Albany Corporation announcing program details.

Previous rounds of the Small Business Façade Improvement Program have been tremendously successful. Since 2018, more than 60 City of Albany businesses throughout 16 different Albany neighborhoods and commercial districts have received matching grant awards to support owners’ reinvestments into their properties. To date, more than $350,000 in program funding has been disbursed leveraging more than $730,000 in private investment, more than twice the amount of grant resources. The program is made possible by the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation with the Albany Community Development Agency supporting the program over many years. It’s administered by Capitalize Albany Corporation.

 “This is crucial programming for small businesses across the City,” said Capitalize Albany president Ashley Mohl. “The program gives business owners the support needed to reinvest — strengthening commercial districts and providing opportunities for new neighborhood investment citywide. Thank you, Mayor Applyrs, and we are grateful to the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation for continuing support of this program and local businesses.”

“We’re excited that Capitalize Albany Corporation is offering the next round of Facade Improvement Program grant funding, which will help enhance, restore, and elevate the exteriors of local businesses to reflect the quality within. This follows the Governor’s recent announcement of funding for several economic development projects in Downtown. Together, these efforts will ensure that Downtown Albany continues to thrive and grow as New York State’s capital. Businesses such as McGreevy Pro-lab & Pro-Press have already experienced great success with the Facade Improvement Program, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this next round of funding,” said Downtown Albany Business Improvement District executive director Georgette Steffens.

Over this past decade Capitalize Albany has designed and administered several grant programs including the Small Business Façade Improvement Program. Across its administered programs, the Corporation has made grant awards totaling more than $2.7 million to assist small businesses and organizations throughout the City of Albany. More than 90 percent of this funding has been awarded within Albany Community Development Agency’s Neighborhood Strategy Areas (NSAs) and Qualified Census Tracts. These programs have leveraged more than $3 million in new, private investment throughout the Capital City.

The current application window is open as of September 8 and will close on October 22 at 3 p.m. Details regarding eligible applicants and improvements can be found in the Program Guidelines. An overview of improvements or renovations eligible to receive support include decorative or functional enhancements such as exterior signs, lighting, energy conservation, windows, awnings, storefronts and entrances, doors, brickwork, painting, repair to decorative details, cornices, correction of code violations, removal of non-historic materials, and upgrades of blighted buildings. Grants can also support renovations to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Improvements to interiors, parking lots, or sidewalks are not eligible improvements.