(COLUMBUS) Fresh signs, repaired brickwork and updated storefronts are coming to downtown Columbus this year as the city’s Community Development Authority awards more than $32,000 in façade grants to local properties.
The funding is part of Columbus’ Façade Grant Program, a matching reimbursement program designed to help property owners improve the appearance of commercial, industrial and mixed-use buildings. The grants cover dollar-for-dollar improvements, up to $25,000 per project, and are aimed at strengthening the look and long-term health of the city’s business districts.
Seven properties received grants in 2025. Projects range from tuckpointing and exterior repairs to new signage and awnings that will make buildings more visible and inviting to customers.
On North Ludington Street, MPs Town Tap at 153 N. Ludington St. will use its grant for tuckpointing, while the former Black Kettle building at 135 N. Ludington St. is slated for façade improvements. Along West James Street, the Columbus Historical Society at 152 W. James St. will make exterior upgrades, and Holistic Life Chiropractic at 116 W. James St. plans to add new signage and awnings.
Additional signage projects are planned for the Odd Fellows building at 131 W. James St., Jensen Funeral & Cremation at 248 S. Ludington St., and Olive + Herb at 1540 W. James St.
City officials say the program supports ongoing efforts to reinvest in Columbus’ historic downtown and other commercial areas where older buildings need updates. Columbus was established in 1845, and many of its commercial structures have reached an age where reinvestment can make a visible difference.
The Community Development Authority reviews all façade grant applications and meets on the third Monday of each month. Applications for the 2026 Façade Grant Program are currently under review.
–Photo courtesy of the City of Columbus – WI Facebook page
