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Assistance & Incentives

Howell Main Street Inc. offers a variety of incentive programs to achieve our mission of positioning downtown Howell as a destination, supporting our entrepreneurial eco-system, and improving the quality and appearance of our storefronts that fit our community’s design standards.

Sign Incentive Program:

• Provides a grant of 25% of the approved sign costs.
• Maximum of $1000 awarded per applicant
• Sign designs must follow the City of Howell and Howell Main Street’s sign permitting guidelines, as well as receive approval from the Design Committee PRIOR to start of production.

Download the application and guidelines HERE.

Façade Incentive Program:

Grants will reimburse 50% of the project costs up to the following maximums.
• Front Façade: $10,000
• Rear Façade: $5,000
• Side Façade: $2,500
• All rehabilitation projects MUST meet City of Howell zoning and building codes and secure permits.
• A $250 non-refundable application fee and proof of funding must accompany the
completed application form, made payable to Howell Main Street Inc. All applications
submitted without an application fee will not be considered.

Download the application and guidelines HERE.

Historic Preservation Resources

Downtown Howell’s character is built on its historic storefronts. Whether you’re tuckpointing brick, restoring a storefront, replacing windows, or designing a new sign for an old building, doing the work well (and in a historically sensitive way) protects your investment and strengthens the downtown we all share.

Howell Main Street encourages property owners, tenants, sign companies, and contractors to use the following trusted resources before starting façade or sign work in the Central Business District. These references can help you plan a project that meets the HMS Design Guidelines, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, and applicable building codes.

State & Regional Resources

Michigan State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) The state agency that promotes and protects Michigan’s historic places. SHPO offers technical guidance, tax credit programs for rehabilitating historic buildings, and a wealth of resources for property owners. Your best starting point for Michigan-specific preservation questions.

Michigan Historic Preservation Network (MHPN) Michigan’s statewide nonprofit dedicated to preserving historic buildings, streetscapes, and landscapes. MHPN offers workshops, conferences, and technical support, and maintains the Historic Resources Council Directory, an annual directory of Michigan craftspeople, contractors, architects, and consultants with experience working on historic properties. This is an excellent first stop when looking for a tuckpointer, window restorer, storefront specialist, or sign maker with historic preservation experience.

National Technical Guides

National Park Service Preservation Briefs Free, downloadable technical briefs written by preservation experts — widely considered the gold standard for historic building care. Especially helpful for contractors unfamiliar with historic materials and methods. Most relevant briefs for downtown Howell storefronts include:

  • Preservation Brief 1 – Cleaning and Water-Repellent Treatments for Historic Masonry
  • Preservation Brief 2 – Repointing Mortar Joints in Historic Masonry (the best resource for tuckpointing)
  • Preservation Brief 6 – Dangers of Abrasive Cleaning (explains why sandblasting damages historic brick)
  • Preservation Brief 9 – The Repair of Historic Wooden Windows
  • Preservation Brief 11 – Rehabilitating Historic Storefronts
  • Preservation Brief 25 – The Preservation of Historic Signs
  • Preservation Brief 44 – The Use of Awnings on Historic Buildings

Browse all briefs: nps.gov/orgs/1739/preservation-briefs.htm

Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation The federal standards that guide nearly all historic preservation grant programs – including ours. Projects that follow these standards tend to move smoothly through Design Committee review.

Browse: nps.gov/orgs/1739/preservation-by-topic.htm

Local Resources

Howell Main Street Design Guidelines Downtown Howell’s own guidelines for façade improvements, signage, color selection, awnings, and historic storefront treatment. Available at the HMS office, 118 W. Clinton Street.

Howell Carnegie District Library Historic Archives Historic photographs of many downtown buildings are available in the Library’s in person and digital archives. These photos are an excellent starting point when planning a restoration.

Howell Main Street Office Questions about your project, the Façade or Sign Incentive Programs, or where to start? Reach out! We are happy to talk through ideas before you apply.

Claire Clenney: cclenney@downtownhowell.org | (517) 540-6736

Lexie Wilcox: lwilcox@downtownhowell.org | (517) 540-6717

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