Downtown Commercial Historic District

Financial Tools & Programs

Interested in pursuing a financial tool? Fill out an Intake Form.

Predevelopment Grant

Provides up to $20,000 per property with a 50% match from non-City funds, covering soft costs like design and engineering. Approval by Rochester City staff is required, with $125,000 available annually.

Program Outline

• Up to $20,000 per contributing property
• 50% match by other non-City funds
• Reimbursement, progress payment TBD
• Eligible Expenses: soft costs such as design, plans, and engineering
• Approval required by Rochester City staff
• $125,000 available funds per year, or until funds are exhausted or re-allocated

Application Requirements

• Quote/bid/estimate

Economic Development Loan

Offers up to $200,000 per property with a 10-year term at 0% interest, including a $20,000 incentive for non-street-level housing projects. Approval by Rochester City staff is required, with $1,000,000 available annually.

Program Outline

• Up to $200,000 per contributing property
• 10 year term / 0% interest rate
• Eligible Expenses: What can it be used towards?
• $20,000 incentive for non-street-level housing projects
• Approval required by Rochester City staff
• $1,000,000 available funds per year, or until funds are exhausted or re-allocated

Application Requirements

• Project plans
• Quotes/bids/estimates
• Commitment of other financial support
• Project must meet all City planning, zoning, or other entitlement requirements and approvals

Infrastructure Investment

Provides up to $500,000 per property with a 50% match from non-DMC funds, covering permanent physical improvements that qualify as public infrastructure projects. Approval by the DMCC Board and Rochester City Council is required, with funds available until December 31, 2029.

Program Outline

• Up to $500,000 per contributing property
• 50% match by other non-DMC funds
• Eligible Expenses: Permanent physical improvements to the building that meet the DMC definition of “public infrastructure project.”
• Approval required by the DMCC Board and the Rochester City Council
• Funds available until 12.31.2029 or until funds are exhausted or re-allocated

Application Requirements

• Quotes/bids/estimates
• Commitment of other financial support
• Acknowledgements for prevailing wage, American made steal, WMBE goals, Sustainability goals
• Project must meet all City planning, zoning, or other entitlement requirements and approvals

Financial Assistance Webinar

The City and Destination Medical Center (DMC) held a webinar on July 25th, 2025, to provide information about the Downtown Historic District financial assistance program. We hope the recorded session will be useful to anyone interested in the program.

• The active transportation network provides connection to the district via the river trail and several nearby on-street bicycle lanes.
• 23 different bus routes travel to and through the historic district on 2^nd Street and Broadway Avenues.
• Public Parking lots and ramps are located adjacent to the district.

Open and available to everyone at no charge, the public realm includes streets, sidewalks, plazas, and green space. Pavement, vegetation, utilities, street furnishings, and the buildings that enclose and define these spaces all influence the public realm. The City and historic district partners have begun a process to define a common vision for the use of cultural & natural features within and adjacent to the historic district as resources for property and business owners, and the community at large.  Read more about the Downtown Commercial Historic District Visioning project.

• Guidelines help property owners determine best practices and requirements for altering historic properties
• Section 60.200.040C UDC governs designations & alterations