The Iowa City Downtown District’s CoSign+ grant program sponsored by MidWestOne Bank returns once again with matching funds to provide meaningful support for downtown entities to establish creative and authentic designs for signage and storefront enhancements.
This year’s program focuses on projecting signage, awnings/canopies, take-out windows, window transparency, and lighting as encouraged in the ICDD’s Design Guidelines. Downtown District businesses that are interested in the program should read the full grant process and follow the steps for eligibility.
THANK YOU to MidWestOne for your support of last year’s recipients!
CoSign+ Details:
Projecting / Blade Signs
50% grant match for projecting signs up to $3,000;
Signs must be projecting, pedestrian-oriented
Illuminated, creative, memorable designs encouraged
Storefront Enhancements
50% grant match for storefront enhancements up to $2,000;
Window and storefront enhancements eligible upon review
Merchandising, window / door transparency, and colorful doorplate or other design additions encouraged.
Background
CoSign, a program of the National Sign Museum, put out a call in 2016 for a national launch of their turn-key placemaking neighborhood revitalization program. The Iowa City Downtown District partnered with MidWestOne Bank and the City of Iowa City and was one of six chosen communities. Years later now, the ICDD has unveiled over 30 pedestrian-oriented projecting blade signs and roughly 15 storefront enhancements that were locally designed and customized for downtown Iowa City. The program has since expanded to include the ICDD’s signature “+” aspects to include other incentives for signage, merchandising, doorways, and other storefront improvements.
Questions? Email nancy@downtowniowacity.com for more information.