City of Milwaukee Grants

The City of Milwaukee has a number of grant opportunities available to area businesses.

The following grants from The City can be combined with Gateway BID grants to maximize each dollar you spend.

The Commercial Revitalization Grants provide financial and business assitance to businesses and commercial property owners interested in renovating their buildings.  The program was established by DCD to improve and enhance the physical appearance of commercial buildings in the City’s Commercial Corridors.  The fund offers three different programs to assist businesses and property owners to invest in commercial storefronts in the City of Milwaukee.  See below for program categories and eligible activities.

For more information or if you have trouble downloading an application, please contact the Commercial Revitalization Fund at (414) 286-8201 or email commercialcorridorgrants@milwaukee.gov

Facade Grant

The City's Façade Grant program provides financial and business assistance to businesses and commercial property owners interested in renovating the street faces of their buildings.

Signage Grant

The City's Signage Grant program provides financial and business assistance to business owners interested in creating well designed signage or updating their signage to current design standards.

Storefront Activation Grant

The Storefront Activation Grant is designed to provide targeted financial incentives to increase the vitality of the neighborhood commercial corridors. The funds will assist in recruiting new businesses to vacant commercial/retail tenant spaces in commercial buildings.

Retail Investment Fund Grant (RIF)

The Retail Investment Fund (RIF) is limited to funding retail development projects, located in neighborhood business districts.

Please contact Gateway staff if you would like:

  • insight on how to best combine/maximize available grants
  • help with grant applications
  • additional information on the grant process