FINANCIAL TOOLS

 

ACTIVATION &
BEAUTIFICATION
CARE
GRANT

FINANCIAL TOOLS

ACTIVATION &
BEAUTIFICATION
CARE
GRANT

Mural of woman on the exterior of a building

"Finding Tomorrow" from the Mending Walls public art project.

Richmond's Activation and Beautification CARE (ABC) grants provide funds to activate and beautify CARE areas to encourage revitalization and rehabilitation, and improve the environment for retail, service, and other businesses.

ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

Neighborhood, civic, and business associations, non-profits, foundations, and similar groups. The applicant group does not need to be based in a designated CARE area.

The applicant must be registered with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and must be current on all required City taxes.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Projects that activate, beautify, and improve the commercial environment and the vibrancy of CARE areas. Examples include, but are not limited to:

  • Murals
  • Window displays in vacant spaces
  • Decorative or pedestrian-scale lighting improvements
  • Public-facing art installations
  • Pop-up concepts
  • Building wraps
  • Landscaping and greenscaping improvements
  • Exterior building cleaning and cosmetic façade improvements
  • Other activation and beautification efforts that are visible from the public right-of-way

AWARD INFORMATION

Grant awards will be evaluated based on project scope and alignment with program goals, CARE area impact and stakeholder support, execution viability and timelines, applicant experience and capacity, and fund availability. up to the following maximums:

  • The program provides grants of up to $25,000
  • The program provides up to an additional $25,000 if an applicant has a dollar-for-dollar matching source.
  • The maximum award is $50,000.

Before the grant award, selected applications will receive “Conditional Concept Approval,” to indicate that their project, should it receive all necessary state and local regulatory approvals (i.e., safety, health, permitting, zoning, etc.) and sign a performance agreement, will be awarded a grant. The City will schedule a “Concept Path Meeting” to discuss approvals needed and help the applicant through the process.

HOW TO APPLY

  • Applications will open at 12 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, May 1, 2026, and close at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 29, 2026.
    • There will be a virtual program info session held during the week of April 27 to answer questions; additional information forthcoming.
    • Economic Development staff will be available to answer application questions during the application period on a one-on-one basis.
  • Application will be available online and linked directly from this webpage.
  • Materials needed to apply include, but are not limited to, detailed project description, expected impact, implementation timeline, project financials (include matching funds if applicable), letters of support from relevant business, neighborhood, civic, and community stakeholders, proof that the organization is in good standing with Commonwealth and Virginia (current SCC registration, business license), information on the background, qualifications, and experience of the applicant.

Download the info sheet

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Projects in Historic Districts

Certain areas of Richmond are designated as Historic Districts, which follow additional zoning laws for their property that may be relevant for the Activation and Beautification Grant. Murals are welcome within our city’s Historic Districts, however historic brick is more porous and softer than modern brick, and therefore they must be thoughtfully reviewed to ensure it respects the integrity of our historic buildings.

We strongly encourage those interested in a mural project in a historic district to consult with the Commission of Architectural Review staff to discuss techniques and options: email Alex Dandridge at Alex.Dandridge@rva.gov.

Questions

The Richmond Economic Development team are here to support applicants during the application process. Please send questions to RichmondEDA@rva.gov.

Interested in learning more about Richmond, Virginia? Reach out to Richmond Economic Development.

Allison Beatty

Allison Beatty

RETAIL, TOURISM, & BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICTS

804.316.4018

Allison.Beatty@rva.gov