BOWDON MAIN STREET
Southern | Small | Charming
Main Street Grants
Bowdon Main Street is here to facilitate growth and economic development in the downtown area. If you are a new or existing business, we want to help you!
One way we do that is to provide grant money for building facades and signs. Only businesses within the downtown district are eligible for these grants.
Facade Grant Program
The Main Street Facade Grant Program is designed to encourage exterior improvements to the commercial properties in our Main Street district footprint; to preserve the unique character of these historical buildings, to enhance the overall look of downtown Bowdon, and to stimulate business growth.
- The grant is for commercial property only. It is not offered for residential improvements
- All improvements must comply with the City of Bowdon building codes and ordinances
- Applicants must be building owners; however, tenants and owners may apply jointly
- Property must lie within the confines of the Bowdon Main Street district footprint or a special request may be considered for commercial properties which lie outside of the district boundaries
- Work must commence within 30 days of acceptance into the facade grant program and completed within 180 days
- They MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE starting the project
- Facade grants will not be permitted for routine maintenance or damage covered by insurance
- Painting, cleaning, and repair of exterior structures
- Repair or replacement of architectural features, door, and windows
- Signs (Separate application available)
- Awnings
- Installation, repair, or replacement of exterior lighting fixtures
- Installation of new awnings and frames
- Exterior improvements may include front, side, or back of building as long as the facade faces a public street or parking lot
- Removal of historically or architecturally significant features
- Sandblasting of brick or masonry surfaces
- Improvements made prior to the approval of grant application
- Roof repairs
- Construction of new buildings
- Interior improvements
- Purchase of property and/or buildings
- Operating capital or inventory
- Properties with past due city taxes, utilities, or business licenses
Design Assistance
The Georgian Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Community Affairs provide a design consultant for Georgia Main Street cities to help plan project renovations. For a nominal fee, the design experts can provide you with a rendering that will best fit your building and enhance the surrounding properties.
Funding
- Grant money will be awarded on a 1:1 basis for eligible project expenses. Each building may be awarded a maximum of $1,000 per project, as funds are available (Refer to your accountant to discuss possible tax implications for receiving a grant).
- Grants are limited to one grant per building during any 12 month period, excluding additional funds awarded for signage.
- Grant money will be paid:
After work has been completed and all receipts and paid invoices have been turned in to Bowdon Main Street staff.
After representatives of the Main Street Board and Codes Enforcement have inspected the property and reviewed and approved all invoices, receipts, and canceled checks.
Contracted projects must provide proof of final payment.
- First come, first serve basis
- Availability of funds
- Historic or architectural significance of the property
- Compatibility with other downtown improvement projects
- Potential impact of the project on the downtown
- Overall cost of the project
- Quality of the project improvements
- Incomplete application
Completed grant application must be submitted to the office of the Main Street Program Manager at Bowdon City Hall, in person, or by mailing to Bowdon City Hall.
136 City Hall Avenue
Bowdon, GA 30108
Applications will be evaluated no later than six weeks after receipt. No work may commence prior to written approval by the Bowdon Main Street. Applications may be obtained from City Hall, office of the Main Street Manager.
Applicants must submit designs to the Main Street Manager for review before submitting for approval of the Design Committee and final approval of the Board. The Main Street Manager may offer suggestions for design assistance, improvements, color selections, and other recommendations.
Download Application
To complete your application, print and sign the Facade Grant and include it with your application. Applications are not complete without the signature page, and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
770-258-8980, Ext 105
mwilson@bowdon.net
182 Grammar School Road
Bowdon, GA 30108
Signage Grant Program
The Main Street Signage Grant Program is designed to encourage exterior improvements to the commercial properties in our Main Street district footprint; to preserve the unique character of these historical buildings, to enhance the overall look of downtown Bowdon, and to stimulate business growth.
- The grant is for commercial property signage only
- All improvements must comply with the City of Bowdon building codes and ordinances
- Applicants must be tenants or owners
- Property must lie within the confines of the Bowdon Main Street district footprint or a special request may be considered for commercial properties which lie outside of the district boundaries
- Work must commence within 30 days of acceptance into the signage grant program and completed within 180 days
- They MUST BE APPROVED BEFORE starting the project
- Signage grants will not be permitted for routine maintenance or damage covered by insurance
- Signs advertising a store or business
- Applicant must be willing to agree to remove the sign when the business moves or closes within 60 days of the move/closure
- Removal of historically or architecturally significant features
- Sandblasting of brick or masonry surfaces
- Improvements made prior to the approval of grant application
- Properties with past due city taxes, utilities, or business licenses
The Georgian Trust for Historic Preservation and the Department of Community Affairs provide a design consultant for Georgia Main Street cities to help plan project renovations. For a nominal fee, the design experts can provide you with a rendering that will best fit your building and enhance the surrounding properties.
- Sign must be durable
- Must be respectful to the historical and community context of the building
- Can include lighting, IF lighting is specifically for the sign. DOES NOT exclude other lighting
- Properties with past due city taxes, utilities, or business licenses
Funding
- Grant money will be awarded on a 50% basis for eligible project expenses, up to a total project cost of $1,000. Each sign may be awarded a maximum of $500 per project, as funds are available (Refer to your accountant to discuss possible tax implications for receiving a grant).
- Grants are limited to one grant per building during any 12 month period, excluding additional funds awarded for signage.
- Grant money will be paid:
After work has been completed and all receipts and paid invoices have been turned in to Bowdon Main Street staff.
After representatives of the Main Street Board and Codes Enforcement have inspected the property and reviewed and approved all invoices, receipts, and canceled checks.
Contracted projects must provide proof of final payment.
- First come, first serve basis
- Availability of funds
- Historic or architectural significance of the property
- Compatibility with other downtown signage
- Potential impact of the project on the downtown
- Overall cost of the project
- Quality of the project improvements
- Incomplete application
- Durability of signage
- Agreement to remove signage within 60 days of a business moving or closing
Completed grant application must be submitted to the office of the Main Street Program Manager at Bowdon City Hall, in person, or by mailing to Bowdon City Hall.
136 City Hall Avenue
Bowdon, GA 30108
Applications will be evaluated no later than six weeks after receipt. No work may commence prior to written approval by the Bowdon Main Street. Applications may be obtained from City Hall, office of the Main Street Manager.
Applicants must submit designs to the Main Street Manager for review before submitting for approval of the Design Committee and final approval of the Board. The Main Street Manager may offer suggestions for design assistance, improvements, color selections, and other recommendations.
Download Application
To complete your application, print and sign the Signage Grant and include it with your application. Applications are not complete without the signature page, and WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
770-258-7399
mwilson@bowdon.net
136 City Hall Avenue
Bowdon, GA 30108
Historical Guidelines
Georgia has a strong preservation constituency that works in partnership to protect our irreplaceable historic places. Preservationists need to continue to assess where we are, adjust out course, evaluate the choices we have made, and envision a better future. We need to reaffirm out vision of community, shared experiences, and shared heritage. It is a vision that blends treasuring our past with developing a new course for the future.
View the Guidelines
770-258-7399
mwilson@bowdon.net
136 City Hall Avenue
Bowdon, GA 30108
Frequently Asked Questions
An application facade is the front or rear face of a building or an exposed side that faces a public street or parking lot.
There are limited funds available and limits are in place to encourage use of funds by as many applicants as possible.
The Design Committee will be guided by the Georgia State Historic Preservation Plan.
Colors recommended by the Design Guidelines or a historic color palette available from the Main Street Manager are acceptable.
No, only for properties which are commercial or mixed use properties (commercial on the ground floor).
A map is available. You may also request a copy from the Main Street Manager or download the map here.
Bowdon Main Street
182 Grammar School Road, Bowdon, Georgia, 30108
mwilson@bowdon.net
770-258-8980, Ext 105
©2026, City of Bowdon, Georgia