Best Facade Forward

It's time to put your Best Facade Forward ...

Could the outside of your business use a little sprucing up? Maybe it’s time to replace your old sign, or outdated awning? Or maybe, you just want to add a few flower boxes to increase beautification of your storefront? Maybe you're thinking even bigger ... and you want to totally overhaul the outside of your downtown building. 

This year, Downtown Bellefonte Inc. has partnered with Bellefonte-based Hoffman Leakey Architects to offer a free facade rendering that will help a business or downtown property owner envision what their facade could become; and an additional $1,000 prize toward making that vision become a reality.

Why facade matters:

Retail store owners and downtown businesses rely on their initial impression to entice people to make their way into the store. Basic elements such as signage, awnings, windows, and colors can all add up to more profits for a business. And, as businesses improve facades individually, our community as a whole is beautified.

How to Enter:

  • Businesses that are interested in participating in the 2022 Facade Contest will need to provide the following to enter:
  • A cover letter detailing the business’ history in downtown Bellefonte, and why the business should be chosen in the contest (minimum 200 words)
  • A photo of the current storefront
  • A description of a vision for the facade/facade improvements to be made with funding
  • Business contact information
  • Optional: Inspiration photos for proposed updates

Because Bellefonte’s downtown is a historic district, the winner’s facade updates will need to be approved by the Historic Architectural Review Board.

Entry materials should be sent to the Downtown Bellefonte Inc. Main Street Manager Jennilyn Schuster at jennilyn@downtownbellefonteinc.com, with the subject line “2022 Facade Contest Entry.”

About Downtown Bellefonte Inc.:

At the heart of Downtown Bellefonte Inc.’s overall mission is a drive to recruit and retain businesses within our downtown. Downtown Bellefonte Inc. is a designated Main Street program, in which the organization focuses its efforts on growth within the downtown district.

Contest details:

Applications for the 2022 Best Facade Forward program are open until June 15, 2022.

Entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges, made up of Downtown Bellefonte Inc. board members, an architect from Hoffman Leakey Architects, as well as community residents. Funds will be issued to businesses after HARB approval of the recipient's project.

Only Downtown Bellefonte businesses may apply.