Supporting Innovative Growth through New Signage (SIGNS)

Applicants need to be an a municipal, foundation, Chamber, Main Street, Economic Development or other non-profit community-based entity. Applicants need to identify a minimum of three, maximum of 5, businesses needing new signage in the application. The need for new signage needs to be shown in the application.

Businesses must serve walk-in customers who purchase goods or services on-site, in a qualifying commercial district. Only retail and restaurant, consumer-facing establishments that generate in-person commerce are eligible.

Each applicant must provide a letter of support from the city acknowledging the new signage and agreeing to help with codes and installation where applicable.

Each applicant must provide letters from each participating business acknowledging their desire for new signage and their commitment to cover matching funds.

Qualifying Commercial Districts:

• Traditional Main Street districts with mostly intact commercial buildings
• Urban commercial corridors with street-oriented businesses
• Historic downtown areas, even with significant vacancy
• Mixed-use districts where ground floors are designed for commercial use

Non-Qualifying Commercial Districts:

• Strip centers with front parking lots
• Highway commercial with scattered businesses
• Areas where most buildings are residential or office
• Districts fragmented by major parking lots or non-commercial development

The SIGNS grant can be used toward the design, purchase, lighting and installation of a commercial sign in a downtown of a rural community. Eligible costs include design, purchase, lighting and electrical, and installation of the sign (including mortar work where sign will be adhered). Grant administration costs up to 10% of the grant award are eligible.

*All sign types should follow the Quality Places Signage Guide.

• Building/Facade Signs: Signs attached to the exterior of the building, either flat on the storefront or the facade.
• Blade Signs: Projecting signs installed perpendicular to the building.
• Pole Signs: Signs installed on poles are eligible if they are historic, being restored, or not backlit plastic. Existing pole signs are also eligible if they are in poor condition or display outdated business information.
• Awning Signs: Graphics or text permanently affixed to or incorporated into a storefront awning. The awning itself is also an eligible expense.
• Painted Wall Signs: Signage where the business name, logo, or advertisement is painted directly onto the building’s exterior surface. The painted wall sign must upgrade the previous signage and include a lighting element.
• Exterior Lighting: Lighting specifically installed to illuminate a new sign under this grant can be included as an eligible expense as part of the total package.

• Façade improvements, window replacements, interior improvements, temporary signage, sign maintenance, billboards/marketing signs, etc.
• Sign grants will NOT be given to internally lit panel signs, standard corporate franchise signs, signs that are not completed by a sign professional or signs that simply replace existing signs with no change in the design or materials.
• Government offices, residences and home businesses are not eligible for a sign under this grant.

• Applicants who lease their space must provide a letter providing permission from the building owner to apply for the grant. The letter must indicate awareness of the rules and requirements of the program.
• Applicants and intended sign recipients must have all property taxes to the City and State be paid in-full to date.
• The sign must be completed and installed within six months of receiving approval of the grant.
• Under the SIGNS grant program, preference will be given to signs that are three-dimensional, as well as made and installed by a Kansas business.
• Signs and awnings design should follow the Kansas Main Street Sign Guidelines.
• The Design Committee may deny a sign incentive to any applicant that does not make recommended changes to their sign after a first review.
• Nonconforming signage on property, if applicable, must be permanently removed as part of the improvement.
• Applicants must comply with all State and local laws and regulations pertaining to licensing, permits, building code and zoning requirements. Permitting must be obtained prior to grant funds being disbursed (if applicable).

Grant Announcement: December 2025

Application Period: January 1 to February 28, 2026

Submission Deadline: February 28, 2026

Award Notification: April 2026

The SIGNS Grant follows a structured nine-month timeline designed to guide communities from training and design through installation and evaluation. This phased approach ensures that participants build the skills needed to develop effective signage, collaborate successfully with designers and fabricators, complete high-quality installations, and measure both the economic and community impact of their work. The timeline below outlines the progression of activities and expectations for each stage of the program.

• April 2026
  • Two virtual trainings
    • What makes an effective sign?
    • What do sign companies need to install a sign?
• May & June 2026
  • Creating goals for a new sign
  • Finding and working with a designer/artist AND a sign fabricator
  • Final sign design and budget Approval
• July through September 2026
  • Fabrication and Installation
• October through December 2026
  • Qualitative and quantitative assessments

The Kansas Arts Commission accepts applications for possible inclusion on the SIGNS Artist Roster, which is the resource that SIGNS grant recipients use to find a sign designer.

• Can SIGNS Grant funds be used for community welcome signs or wayfinding signage?
  • No. The SIGNS Grant is intended to support retail and restaurant establishments and other businesses that directly drive commerce within a community. Community-wide welcome signs, wayfinding signage, or other non-business-specific signage are not eligible for funding under this program.
    
• Can signs be installed on libraries or city, county, or other government buildings?
  • No. The SIGNS Grant is specifically intended to support retail and restaurant establishments and other businesses that directly drive commerce within a community. Public or government-owned buildings, including libraries and city or county facilities, are not eligible for this funding.
    
• Are food trucks eligible for the SIGNS Grant?
  • No. Food trucks are not eligible for funding through the SIGNS Grant program. The grant is intended to strengthen commercial districts and downtown areas, and signage for mobile or temporary businesses does not align with this goal.
    
• What are the matching fund requirements, and how much funding can be requested?
  • Each community may request up to $25,000 in grant funds. Funded projects must include a minimum of three signs.
  • Applicants may allocate different funding amounts to each sign based on size, design, and project needs. For planning and budgeting purposes, applicants may estimate:
  • An average of up to $8,333 in grant funding per sign
  • A required match of approximately $4,166.50 per sign
  • An estimated total project cost of around $12,500 per sign
  • Actual funding distribution may vary depending on the total number of signs proposed and the overall project scope.
    
• Is there a list of artists available through the Signs Artist Roster?
  • The Signs Artist Roster has not yet been established. The Kansas Arts Commission is accepting applications for artists to be included. Visit the Arts Commission SIGNS Artist Roster Page for more information and to apply for inclusion. The roster will be finalized and available before SIGNS grant awards are announced. This is a new roster created specifically to support this grant program and address signage needs across the state.
    
• Will I have to pay the artist I work with to design my sign?
  • Yes. Rates for artists will be between $20-$50 per hour. A typical sign design takes on average 10-30 hours. Artist fees are an eligible expense of the program.

Signs are a part of the appearance of the building and, therefore, should be designed for an appropriate location on the building. Signs should be in one or more of the traditional locations and designed to be read by pedestrians and/or slow-moving automobiles. Counting a double-sided blade sign as one sign there should not be more than three types of signs on a front façade of a business.

Traditional locations for signs on historic, commercial downtown buildings include:

• The valance panel (vertical section or end) of a traditional canvas awning; large lettering, logos or signs on the sloping part of the canopy are discouraged.
• On the window glass or door glass;
• Mounted flush to the building facade in the panel above the awning or transom windows, the transom windows or transom panel itself; if signs are on a transom window, they should be individual letters and not significantly obscure the transom glass. (Signs should not not cover more than 25% of the transom glass.)
• Or a small projecting sign or blade sign oriented to pedestrians and mounted below the top of the transom. Blade signs may be double sided.
• The valance panel (vertical section or end) of a traditional canvas awning; large lettering, logos or signs on the sloping part of the canopy are discouraged.

1. Where possible, align signs with other signs on adjacent buildings.
2. If a building has a historic sign, it should be preserved or incorporated into the storefront’s new identification and signage whenever possible.
3. Generally, wood, metal, glass and some polymers are the best base materials for painted signs. (Vacuum formed plastic signs and plastic bubble letters are not allowed. Higher quality CNC cut acrylic and injection molded plastic will be considered.)
4. Sign colors should complement the colors of the building and are limited to three colors.
5. Signs should not be located in the upper facade of the building.
6. Signs should fit within the existing features of the facade. They should not cover up architectural details on the building.
7. Window and door signs should not obscure the display areas of visibility. Permanent window and door signs should not occupy more than 25% of the total glass area on which they are displayed. Such signs should complement other signs on the facade. Signage, wraps or graphics that totally fill the display windows of a business are not allowed.
8. Display the hours that the business is open within the design of the door or window sign.
9. Signs should be clear, concise and easily read. The message should be kept to a minimum, so it is quickly read.
10. Signs cannot be mounted on roofs.
11. Awnings can serve as signs with contrasting letters painted or sewn onto the valance. 6” to 8” letters are sufficient. Large lettering, logos or signs on the sloping part of the canopy are prohibited.
12. The building sign shall be affixed flat against the face of the building as opposed to perpendicular and/or double-faced. Large projecting signs are not allowed.
13. A flush-mounted sign board may extend the width of the storefront between the side piers, but may not be more than 2 ½ ft. high. The sign should be mounted somewhere above the storefront.
14. This grant will not cover any signs that flash or move. No video boards; this includes “open” signs.
15. If lighting is desirable, spotlights mounted on the building surface or back-lighting signs are generally more appropriate. Use warm lighting at 400 kelvin.
16. Back-lit sign faces are not allowed.
17. Avoid nationally distributed promotions.
18. Signs painted on the building surface are prohibited in the downtown historic district.
19. Mechanical fastener locations holding signage should be coordinated to attach to the mortar joints and not to the historic brick.
20. Neon signs ere not allowed in storefront windows.

1. Where possible, align signs with other signs on adjacent buildings.
2. If a building has a historic sign, it should be preserved or incorporated into the storefront’s new identification and signage whenever possible.
3. Generally, wood, metal, glass and some polymers are the best base materials for painted signs. (Vacuum formed plastic signs and plastic bubble letters are not allowed. Higher quality CNC cut acrylic and injection molded plastic will be considered.)
4. Sign colors should complement the colors of the building and are limited to three colors.
5. Signs should not be located in the upper facade of the building.
6. Signs should fit within the existing features of the facade. They should not cover up architectural details on the building.
7. Window and door signs should not obscure the display areas of visibility. Permanent window and door signs should usually not occupy more than 25% of the total glass area on which they are displayed. Such signs should compliment other signs on the facade.
8. Display the hours that the business is open within the design of the door or window sign.
9. Signs should be clear, concise and easily read. The message should be kept to a minimum so it is quickly read.
10. Signs cannot be mounted on roofs.
11. Awnings can serve as signs with contrasting letters painted or sewn onto the valance. Usually, 6” to 8” letters are sufficient. Large lettering logos or signs on the sloping part of the canopy are discouraged.
12. Electronic signs should be no larger than 4’ x 7’.
13. Electronic signs should display in high resolution.
14. Electronic signs should be dimmed at night.
15. Electronic signs should not be flashing.
16. Signage along the highway must be KDOT approved.

Awnings protect pedestrians from the weather and protect merchandise displayed in windows from sunlight. Awnings also shade the storefront and help keep the interiors cooler. Historically, awnings were both fixed and retractable.

1. The awning size and shape should fit the original masonry opening.
2. Awnings should not obscure the architectural features of the building.
3. Awnings or canopies that detract from the historic character of the building should be removed when buildings are rehabbed. (such as those made of wood, wood siding or covered in corrugated metal roofing, asphalt or shake shingles)

1. Back-lit awnings are not appropriate for historic commercial buildings. If lighting is desirable, spotlights mounted on the building surface are more appropriate; another option is downlights mounted in a soffit of an awning.
2. Care should also be given to what the awning looks like from below. Is the metal frame organized and attractive or does it have an enclosed soffit?
3. Typically, fabric, canvas and to a lesser extent vinyl are the most appropriate awning materials; wood, aluminum, shingles, plastic or shiny/slick finishes on fabric/canvas/vinyl are generally not appropriate.
4. Arched top awnings are only allowed at arched openings.
5. Bubble (semi-spherical) awnings are not allowed.
6. The awning size and shape should fit the original masonry opening.
7. Awnings should not obscure the architectural features of the building.
8. Awnings or canopies that detract from the historic character of the building should be removed when buildings are rehabbed. (such as those made of wood, wood siding or covered in corrugated metal roofing, asphalt or shake shingles)
9. As a general rule, back-lit awnings are typically not appropriate for historic commercial buildings. If lighting is desirable, spotlights mounted on the building surface are more appropriate.
10. Care should also be given to what the awning looks like from below. Is the metal frame organized and attractive or does it have an enclosed soffit?