Opelika Main Street has expanded its long-running Bill Roberts Facade Enhancement Grant into a broader Historic Property Enhancement Grant Program. It launched Oct. 1 and gives downtown property owners and tenants more ways to pay for work on their buildings.
Over the past 10 years, the facade grant has helped 40 businesses with a total of $199,643 in grants, according to Opelika Main Street. The new program has four categories:
Bill Roberts Facade Enhancement Grant: up to $15,000 for exterior work such as awnings, paint, doors and windows, brick repair, balconies and exterior lighting. Storefront Transitional Zone Grant: up to $10,000 for improvements within the first 10 feet of a storefront, such as window display platforms, vestibule flooring and display lighting. Life Safety & Code Compliance Grant: up to $25,000 for fire alarms, sprinklers, fire separation, fire-rated doors, exits and unsafe electrical panels or wiring. Termite Grant: up to $1,500 for new termite treatment.
The grants are paid as reimbursements and require a 50/50 match from the owner or tenant. The money comes from the City of Opelika’s Community Development Block Grant program. Projects need approval from the city Planning Department or Historic Preservation Commission and from the Opelika Main Street Design Committee before any work begins.
“This expanded program gives our property and business owners additional tools to invest in their buildings, address important safety needs and preserve the character that makes downtown Opelika special,” Mayor Eddie Smith said. Guidelines and applications are available now from the Opelika Main Street office. The organization encourages applicants to call before starting any work to confirm their project qualifies.
Source: Opelika Main Street via Opelika-Auburn News
Opelika Daily News — Friday Report, Oct. 2, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
