West Palm Beach wants more of its businesses to ask for help. On Oct. 19, 2026, City Hall put out a call to owners already operating in the city and to those thinking about moving there, urging them to apply for its economic development grants and incentives. Four days earlier, the Downtown Development Authority opened a new year of its storefront facade grant. Together, the two moves set up a busy season for owners who want to open, expand, fix up a frontage or put up a better sign.
The city release says the programs are "designed to provide a range of resources and incentives to support businesses at every stage, from opening and expansion to signage, sustainability, and more." It points owners to the Office of Economic Development programs and incentives page to check eligibility, and to the office by phone at (561) 822 1232 or by email at ecd@wpb.org.
What the City Is Offering
The programs page opens with a note that "new programs were approved in Oct. 2025" and that all grants and incentives "closely align with goals outlined in the 2020 City of WPB Economic Plan." It adds a rule that matters for timing: "Grants are awarded on a first come, first qualified basis until funds are exhausted."
As of Oct. 26, 2026, the page lists these programs:
- Merchants and Industry Association Creation Program, which offers grant funds to encourage businesses to form organized groups by industry or neighborhood.
- Business Expansion and Retention Support Grant.
- Business Grand Opening Grant.
- Building Improvement Grant, aimed at property owners, landlords and businesses relocating or expanding.
- Climate Smart Business Grant.
- Creative Signage Support Grant.
- Expert Permit Compliance Grant.
- Sunny Headquarters Grant.
- Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Job Creation, created by city ordinance 4685 16.
Several listings still read "Program details coming soon!" on the city page, including the expansion and retention, grand opening, climate smart, creative signage, expert permit compliance and headquarters grants. The city has not posted award amounts for them. Owners interested in any of those should email ecd@wpb.org and ask for the current guidelines rather than waiting for the page to update, since the release invites applications now and funds go out first come, first qualified.
The Building Improvement Grant
The program with the fullest description is the Building Improvement Grant. The city says it targets "property owners / landlords and new businesses relocating or existing businesses expanding space to make significant, permanent modifications to existing buildings." The city's stated goals include raising property values, bringing some properties up to building codes, encouraging "major tenant improvements necessary for subdividing ground floor spaces and attracting the right mix of businesses to the streets," improving life safety systems, and making upper floors of existing commercial buildings usable for professional services, theaters and other places of assembly.
For a landlord with an empty ground floor bay or an unused second story, that language describes a path to turning dead space into leasable space. The page does not list a dollar cap, so the first step is a call or email to the economic development office.
The Downtown Facade Grant Opened Oct. 15
The second piece of news sits with the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority, known as the DDA. Its FY 26 27 Facade Improvement application lists an application period from Oct. 15, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027. The program is offered with the Community Redevelopment Agency and covers properties inside the DDA district.
The terms are specific:
- The grant covers up to 50% of the cost of exterior improvements.
- Storefront exterior improvements are capped at $10,000.
- Building exterior improvements are capped at $20,000 for a stand alone building or a building facade of more than 25,000 square feet.
- Applications are reviewed in the order received, and funds are awarded first come, first served.
- Processing and approval may take up to 12 weeks.
- Projects must be completed within 18 months of approval.
Eligible work includes awnings and canopies, signage that meets city code, exterior lighting, storefront doors and windows, paint and stucco visible from the street, planters and irrigation framing the storefront, accessibility features at the main entrance and removal of security grilles.
Who Qualifies Downtown
The DDA lists clear eligibility rules. The property must be inside the DDA district. The business must hold a current City of West Palm Beach Business Tax Receipt. There can be no outstanding city liens, delinquent property taxes, code violations or other city debt tied to the applicant, property owner or space. A tenant needs written authorization from the property owner.
The application also lists businesses that are not eligible, including state or federally regulated financial services, wholesale businesses, national brands with 15 or more locations in at least three states and at least five in Florida, tattoo and body art shops, smoking and vape shops, dispensaries and CBD stores, and nightclubs, bars and liquor stores.
Two rules trip people up most often. Work must be approved in writing before it starts, since the DDA says it "does not provide retroactive reimbursement for projects or improvements completed prior to application approval." And a business receiving city or CRA facade money cannot also receive DDA facade money for the same work.
What the Application Needs
The DDA asks for full documentation, and it warns that "inadequately documented applications will not be reviewed." The list includes a description of the work and a target completion date, two verifiable bids from licensed professionals for each part of the project unless one contractor handles all of it, the preferred vendor and the reason, at least one photo of the current facade, a photo or rendering of the finished look, a current Business Tax Receipt, proof of property tax and lien status, the owner's authorization if leasing and a current W 9.
After approval, the DDA asks for a completion schedule, inspects the finished work and pays on final paid invoices, up to the approved amount or 50% of the eligible bill.
Other Downtown Help
The DDA incentives page lists more programs. Grand Opening Assistance offers up to $1,000 in reimbursement for qualifying grand opening costs plus a first year membership in the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches, valued at $450. A Parklet Grant Program helps businesses create outdoor gathering space, and an Event Sponsorship program supports events in the district. The DDA's larger Business Incentive Grant, which offered up to 25% of project costs to a maximum of $75,000, is "currently closed until further notice."
The city's Community Redevelopment Agency runs its own facade and beautification programs in its districts. The Gazette mapped those in a West Palm CRA and DDA incentives map, and the earlier 1909 member business grant is another local option for early stage founders.
A Free First Step on Nov. 4
Owners still at the idea stage have a free on ramp. The city and the Florida SBDC at FAU host "Launching Smart in Florida: A Startup Essentials Workshop & Networking" on Wednesday, Nov. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mandel Public Library, 411 Clematis Street, with an introduction to the city's entrepreneurship programs on the agenda.
What to Do This Week
- Check whether the business sits inside the DDA district or a CRA district, since that decides which facade program applies.
- Confirm the Business Tax Receipt is current and that no liens, code cases or delinquent taxes are attached to the space.
- Collect two bids from licensed contractors before applying for any facade work.
- Email ecd@wpb.org to request guidelines for any city grant still marked "coming soon."
- Do not start work until written approval arrives.
Office Contacts
- City of West Palm Beach Office of Economic Development: (561) 822 1232, ecd@wpb.org.
- City of West Palm Beach main line: (561) 822 1200.
- West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority: (561) 833 8873, 107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200.
Sources
- City of West Palm Beach release, Oct. 19, 2026
- City Office of Economic Development programs and incentives
- DDA FY 26 27 Facade Improvement application
- DDA business incentives
- City release on the Nov. 4 startup workshop
Related
Key Facts
What business grants is West Palm Beach offering in 2026?
The city Office of Economic Development lists association, expansion and retention, grand opening, building improvement, climate smart, creative signage, permit compliance and headquarters grants, plus a job creation tax exemption. Several still read details coming soon. On Oct. 19, 2026, the city invited owners to apply, with awards made first come, first qualified until funds run out.
How much is the downtown West Palm Beach facade grant?
The Downtown Development Authority facade grant covers up to 50% of exterior improvement costs. Storefront projects are capped at $10,000. Building exterior projects are capped at $20,000 for a stand alone building or a facade of more than 25,000 square feet. Payment follows completed work, inspection and final paid invoices, never above the approved amount.
When can owners apply for the DDA facade grant?
The FY 26 27 application period runs from Oct. 15, 2026, through Aug. 31, 2027. Applications are reviewed in the order received and funded first come, first served while money lasts. Processing may take up to 12 weeks, work must be approved in writing before it starts, and projects must finish within 18 months.
Who is not eligible for the downtown facade grant?
The DDA excludes regulated financial services, wholesale businesses, national brands with 15 or more locations in three states and five in Florida, tattoo and body art shops, smoking and vape shops, dispensaries and CBD stores, and nightclubs, bars and liquor stores. Businesses or spaces with code violations, liens or city debt are also ineligible.
Who do owners contact about West Palm Beach grants?
For city programs, the Office of Economic Development takes questions at (561) 822 1232 or ecd@wpb.org, and the city main line is (561) 822 1200. For the downtown facade, grand opening and parklet programs, the Downtown Development Authority office is at 107 S. Olive Avenue, Suite 200, and (561) 833 8873.
