The SRP (Storefront Renovation Program) Downtown Signage Rebate.

The goal of the SRP Downtown Signage Rebate is to combine the talents of the City's Design Specialists with the leverage of the rebate incentive to create exciting signage opportunities in targeted downtown retail areas. The SRP Signage Rebate is focused primarily in the downtown central business district, which is generally described as the Innerbelt to the Flats. See map for exact boundaries.

Eligible Buildings
  1. Buildings built originally with storefront display windows units where the majority of the first-floor uses remain retail
  2. Buildings where the exterior surfaces require no substantial renovation work or have no outstanding code violations.
  3. Buildings where the first floor signage will be rehabilitated in a comprehensive manner through the participation of one applicant – the property owner.  For example, if 4 retail tenants currently exist and all 4 signs are substandard either per the City’s Building Code, or the SRP’s design standards, then the property owner must obtain the agreement to participate from all of the tenants and then apply on their behalf under one City application.  In this way, the building’s signage needs are addressed at one time comprehensively.  Likewise, if only 1 sign was substandard, then the business tenant or the property owner could be the applicant.

Non-Eligible Buildings

Buildings excluded include, but are not limited to, those built originally as a: school, apartments, industrial, manufacturing, strip shopping plaza, arcades and malls regardless of their current or future use.  Also excluded are churches or any commercial building used for sacred purposes.


The Financial Incentives

SRP Downtown Signage Rebate:

The City offers a sign-only rebate of 40% up to $3,000 on a per business use basis to those applicants that fully complete their signage construction/installation within one year of executing a SRP Rebate Agreement with the City of Cleveland, with full adherence to all SRP regulations, requirements and project documentation submissions.

SRP Downtown SIGNAGE-ONLY Business Tenant Loan:

In partnership with the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Action to Support Housing (CASH), Dollar Bank is offering business tenants a 2% fixed interest rate loan up to $15,000 per business use for the design and installation costs associated with new signage created through the SRP.  The loans do not require commercial real estate as collateral and carry terms of 3-5 years based on the credit of the borrower.  No prepayment penalty applies, however both CASH and Dollar Bank charge administrative fees.  These deals require a CDBG compensating balance deposit by CASH and therefore require all federal regulations apply including prevailing wages to projects where the cost of installation exceeds $2,000.

Federal Compliance Requirements:

  SRP projects are required to comply with Federal regulations that apply to the use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, as well as Local and State laws including compliance with the City’s building code.  Applications accepted for the 2005 Sign-only rebate incentive are limited and funding for the rebate is awarded competitively on a first-come, first-served basis by the City of Cleveland to those applicants that successfully complete the SRP’s pre-development process.

For more information, Contact:

City of Cleveland – Dept. of Community Development at 216 664-2869;