The City of Elizabethton, in partnership with Main Street Elizabethton, has been awarded a Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) from the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD), creating a significant new opportunity for downtown property owners and business owners to reinvest in their buildings and storefronts. The DIG program is designed to help support private property owners to enhance their properties while offsetting improvement costs. This marks the city’s third successful DIG award, following grants of $450,000 over the past five years. These projects have resulted in visible upgrades to multiple downtown buildings, contributing to an active and elevated district. DIG is a 75% reimbursable grant, meaning awardees complete their projects upfront and are responsible for the remaining 25% of costs. Awarded projects can receive up to $50,000 toward their improvements.
“Programs like the Downtown Improvement Grant are a powerful tool for downtown property owners,” said Assistant City Manager Logan Engle. “These funds help owners reinvest in their buildings, attract customers, support existing businesses, and increase long-term property value. We’ve seen firsthand how previous DIG projects improved curb appeal and strengthened confidence in our downtown.”
Eligible projects include masonry repairs and brick repointing, restoration or preservation of historic architectural features, removal or reconstruction of false fronts, exterior painting, awnings and canopies, window, door, and signage repair or replacement, safety and stability improvements, and other façade enhancements. Additionally, design guidelines have been established by TNECD staff to support historic preservation elements in all projects. An informational meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 26, in the Elizabethton City Hall Council Chambers (136 S. Sycamore Street). Applications will be distributed at the meeting, and city staff will provide a detailed overview of the program, eligibility requirements, and application process.
“Because this is a competitive grant and several processes have changed since our last DIG award, I encourage folks to attend the meeting and learn how to submit a strong application,” Engle said.
Following the meeting, applications will be accepted until March 6, 2026, and awardees will be notified by the end of March 2026. The community can look forward to seeing the impact of this grant over the next 18 months.
