More than a dozen downtown State College businesses and properties will receive funding for new signs, awnings, lighting, painting and other exterior improvements through a state-backed facade grant program.
The Downtown State College Improvement District (DSCID) announced Tuesday that the businesses were selected for its Main Street Matters Facade Improvement Grant Program, an $80,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
Each project is eligible for up to $5,000 and requires a dollar-for-dollar match. The projects combined represent a total of $114,340 in public and private investment in downtown State College, according to DSCID.
The improvements are intended to enhance the appearances of downtown storefronts and commercial properties while encouraging businesses and property owners to invest in their buildings. The 16 businesses and properties will use the funding for a range of exterior improvements.
• Ambassador Building — New awning
• Antifragile Brewing Company — New canopy roof
• Appalachian Outdoors — Painting and lighting
• Balfurd Cleaners — New marquee sign
• Beaver Plaza — New signage and painting
• Blue Brick Theatre — New windows and painting
• Drip Studios — New sign
• The Family Clothesline — New sign
• Fraser Street Commons — New sign, awning refurbishment and painting
• Hawaiian Yummy Bowl — New sign
• Manny’s Live Performance Space — New Sign, lighting and planters
• Penn Steaks — New sign
• Penn Tower — New sign and painting
• The State Theatre — Marquee glass and lighting
• Yoga Lab — Painting and awning refurbishment
• Zeno’s — New sign
“These projects are a great example of how public investment can directly support the businesses that make downtown State College a unique and vibrant place,” Lee Anne Jeffries, executive director of DSCID, said in a statement. “Each project will make a visible contribution to the downtown streetscape while helping individual businesses and property owners invest in their spaces.”
The Main Street Matters program was created by Pennsylvania in 2024 to support downtown revitalization, small businesses and community development. The program can fund facade improvements, business improvement grants, planning efforts and other projects aimed at strengthening commercial districts.
The state previously awarded DSCID $80,000 through Main Street Matters for a facade improvement program focused on exterior upgrades to downtown commercial properties. The award was part of more than $17.2 million distributed to 56 projects across Pennsylvania in May.
The latest round of state funding came as Pennsylvania committed another $20 million to Main Street Matters in its 2026-27 budget. The program has awarded more than $34 million to 137 projects across the state since its inception.
DSCID plans to offer another, more competitive facade grant opportunity next year using the remaining state funds, allowing additional downtown businesses and properties to potentially receive funding.
“We are grateful to the Commonwealth and DCED for making these resources available to our community,” Jeffries said in the statement. “We look forward to seeing these projects take shape and continuing the momentum next year.”
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