Edwardsville Introduces New Commercial Building Improvement Program

The City of Edwardsville has implemented a new Commercial Building Improvement Program to encourage building owners and those who lease existing structures to update the buildings to current safety standards and the Illinois Accessibility Code.

This program covers updates to the electrical system to meet current safety standards, adding/updating fire sprinkler and alarm systems, and updating an existing structure for ADA accessibility. It also covers architectural and engineering assistance and design fees upon completing the project.

Through the Commercial Building Improvement Program, applicants may be eligible to be reimbursed 25% of applicable costs up to $25,000 for improvements that meet current building codes. These funds, however, will only be reimbursed after authorized projects have been completed, inspected, and approved by the City of Edwardsville.

This plan was developed by Alderman Chris Farrar and approved by the city in late 2022. It was a group effort as Mayor Art Risavy, the fire department, city administrator, city attorney, Edwardsville’s economic and community development coordinator, and the directors of the Public Works and Finance departments all played a part in the plan.

Farrar said the City wants to encourage commercial building and business owners to update structures in a way that will improve safety and accessibility.

“This program is a means to not only encourage those kinds of improvements, but help make them possible. We want to empower and partner with our commercial building and business owners, giving them the tools and help they need for these kinds of improvements,” Farrar said. “There are many older commercial buildings in our downtown. This new program provides financial support to help get some safety-oriented improvements made.”

To be eligible for this program, the property must be a commercial building within their B1 zoning district, and the applicant must be either an owner of the building or the owner of a business within the building who has the building owner’s authorization. All applicants must be up to date with property taxes, city utility bills, and any other form of indebtedness to the City of Edwardsville.

Applicants are encouraged to visit Edwardsville’s website for more information and an application: www.cityofedwardsville.com/CBIP