TIFFIN, OHIO – April 21, 2025 - The City of Tiffin has awarded $100,000 in Façade Enhancement Grants for 2025 to support exterior improvements to 15 commercial properties in the downtown district. Administered in partnership with the Downtown Tiffin Main Street Program, the program continues to promote historic preservation and economic reinvestment in the community. All funds for the 2025 grant cycle have been fully allocated.
Each of the following properties received funding for specific improvement projects:
- 12 S Monroe St. – Roof replacement
- 189 S Washington St. – Exterior staircase refurbishment
- 154 S Washington St. – Window replacement
- 160 S Washington St. – Window restoration
- 129 S Washington St. – Awning replacement
- 185 S Washington St. – Window replacement
- 66/68 E Market St. – Window replacement
- 62 S Washington St. – Roof replacement
- 117/119 E Perry St. – Gutter and soffit replacement
- 104 E Market St. – Wall restoration/replacement
- 36 Melmore St. – Stained glass window repair
- 131 S Washington St. – Roof replacement
- 2–6 Sycamore St. – Exterior painting
- 95 S Monroe St. – Window restoration
- 84–90 S Washington St. – Roof replacement
"It's incredible to see how the Facade Enhancement Program has brought new life to our historic downtown," said Mayor Wilkinson. "With a more than 3 to 1 return on investment, we're not only restoring the charm of our buildings — we're strengthening the heart of our community."
The program offers matching funds of up to $10,000 per property for approved exterior projects. Since its launch in 2014, the program has supported more than 120 projects and leveraged significant private investment in Downtown Tiffin.
For more information on how to renovate or improve a commercial building in Tiffin or Seneca County, visit the Tiffin-Seneca Economic Partnership’s guide: How to Renovate or Improve a Commercial Building. Please note that building owners in the Downtown Tiffin Historic District must receive approval from the Architectural Board of Review (ABR) before beginning any exterior work.
To learn more about future opportunities through the Façade Enhancement Grant Program, contact Donna Gross, Downtown Tiffin Main Street Manager, at gross@tiffinseneca.org or visit www.downtowntiffin.org.
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About Downtown Tiffin
The revitalization of downtown Tiffin began in 2011, when a group of community members came together to form “Tiffin Tomorrow”, with the goal of promoting and encouraging economic development in Downtown Tiffin, and creating plans, programs, and actions to ensure long-term vitality and prosperity. In 2014, the City of Tiffin contracted with SIEDC to act as the downtown organization and “Tiffin Tomorrow” came under the SIEDC (now TSEP) umbrella as the “Downtown Development Board,” which serves as the governing board of the downtown organization. In 2015, Tiffin joined Heritage Ohio’s Main Street Program. For more information, click here.
About Heritage Ohio
Heritage Ohio promotes economic growth through the preservation and revitalization of downtowns and neighborhoods across Ohio. Heritage Ohio is the coordinating agency for the Ohio Main Street Program and is the designated statewide Ohio preservation partner with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Through saving the places that matter we can all build a community and live better. Learn more about how to become involved by visiting www.heritageohio.org.
About Main Street America
Main Street America leads a movement committed to strengthening communities through preservation-based economic development in older and historic downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has provided a practical, adaptable, and impactful framework for community-driven, comprehensive revitalization through the Main Street Approach™. Our network of more than 1,600 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have generated more than $101.58 billion in new public and private investment, generated 168,693 net new businesses and 746,897 net new jobs, rehabilitated more than 325,119 buildings, and levered over 33.7 million volunteer hours. Main Street America is a nonprofit subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit mainstreet.org.
