News & Events

NOW AVAILABLE! 2020 City of Aurora
Facade Improvement Matching Grant (FIMG) and Sign Grant

The prosperity of downtown Aurora is vital to the commercial viability of Aurora as a whole. In 2016, the City of Aurora created the Downtown Strategic Revitalization Project to stimulate efforts to improve the street appearance of historic downtown Aurora's central business facades to help stimulate the business environment. Central to downtown revitalization is the FIMG & Sign Grant Program for residential and commercial properties located within the core business district. New in 2020, eligible property owners in the Westside neighborhood accessible off SR 350 may also apply. These two grants are limited to exterior preservation, restoration, or rehabilitation of real properties, including signage improvements identified on eligible sites.

Eligible Exterior Facade Improvement Projects: All work should follow Recommended treatments in the Aurora Downtown Historic Preservation Standards provided in a link below. Window and Door Restoration, Tuck-pointing, Paint and/or Restoration of Architectural Features.Projects with big public visual impacts will be more competitive. Ineligible projects include additions, removal/alteration of historic features, and projects that offer little public visual improvement. See the Not Recommended sections of the Design Standards for more details.

A minimum Facade Improvement project application is $1,500. All FIMG grants awarded require a matching dollar-for-dollar expenditure by the owner or tenant up to $5,000 per the FIMG grant award requirements. All Façade Improvement Matching Grant awards may not exceed a total of $5,000 during a 12-month period for actual construction costs.

NEW - Sign Grants. This sign grant opportunity doesn’t require a match for match option. However, the Sign Grant will pay for up to $3000 on a new sign with any fees beyond the $3000 including permits and/or installation to be paid for by the applicant. Our goal is to have a distinctive, artistic blade sign beyond the illuminated box concept. Note, new internally-lit signs are now prohibited in the Downtown Historic District.

GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE: 2020 FIMG/SIGN Grant applications are due Feb 28th, 2020 before 4 pm. Both grants use the same application. For Sign Grants, simply complete the “Other” information. Completed applications may be submitted to the City of Aurora, Attn: Mayor Mark A. Drury, P.O. Box 158, Aurora, IN 47001 or delivered to the Clerk Treasurer’s office at Aurora City Hall, 235 Main St. Aurora, IN 47001.

The City of Aurora Facade Improvements Design Committee will meet on March 4th, 2020 at 11 am in Aurora City Hall Council Chambers. Applicants are encouraged to attend. A City Manager recommendation of FIMG-Sign Grants awards to City Council occurs March 9th, 2020 during the Aurora City Council Meeting at 7 pm.

For more information about our FIMG or Sign Grant Program please contact Jarrad Holbrook at (404) 909-5219 or email at jholbrook@indianalandmarks.org. He’s happy to meet with you regarding options.

The City of Aurora is the winner of the 2017 AIM Municipal Innovation Award for the Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program.

HPC Award Winners

Downtown Aurora is vital to the commercial viability of Aurora as a whole. In 2016, the City of Aurora created the Downtown Strategic Revitalization Project to stimulate efforts to improve the street appearance of historic downtown Aurora’s central business facades, and in doing so, help stimulate business in downtown Aurora. Congratulations to the 2019 Historic Preservation Commission Award Recipients.

Recognition Awards

Denmure & Moore Law Office, Weber Sports, Guinevere Emery, Tim Miller (Tiffany's)

Certificate Awards

Adam Geyer, Sherry & Robert Love, Mark & Leslie Thompson, Tim Miller (Gulf Gas Station)

Community Business Highlight

City of Aurora Congratulates

Second Time Around and Krypto’s Comix are housed in the James P. Coulter Building, built in 1860, at 311 Second Street Aurora. The building owned since 1994 by Nancy & Ben Turner opened business May 4, 2017 with antiques and collectibles accumulated over the years and acquired from family members. The day to day business is operated by youngest son Joey and daughter in law Tabatha.

Along with opening of the alley side windows and extensive roof replacement, Second Time Around was fortunate to receive a façade improvement grant for exterior painting as well as a sign grant in 2018 from the City of Aurora.

Krypto’s Comix featuring new and collectible comics and toys is planning a grand reopening in May 2020 with an expansion to the second floor of the building.

Open Wednesday afternoons, Thursday thru Sunday opening at 10:00am can be found on FaceBook @secondtimearound311

AIM Municipal Innovation Award

Pictured left to right: Deputy Clerk-Treasurer Oren Turner, City Manager Guinevere Emery, Mayor Donnie Hastings Jr., Councilman Patrick Schwing, and Clerk Treasurer Benny Turner.

Congratulations to the City of Aurora, Main Street Aurora, and all of our city reinvestment partners.

For more information about the 2019 Facade Improvement Matching Grant Program please contact Aurora City Manager Guinevere Emery at 513-505-7647 or at gemery@aurora.in.us

Attached is the City of Aurora AIM Municipal Innovation Award and community showcase video presented at the AIM Ideas Summit in Evansville, Indiana on October 11th, 2017. The 2017 AIM Municipal Innovation Award, presented by Umbaugh, recognized the City of Aurora’s Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program as part of the Downtown Revitalization Strategic Plan. Accelerate Indiana Municipalities, previously known as IACT, now AIM’s, statement of purpose is “To foster, promote and advocate for the success of Hoosier municipalities as laboratories of innovation, hubs of talent and the engines driving our state’s economy.” The overwhelming success of the City of Aurora’s Façade Improvement Matching Grant Program stems from the premise of shared vision, local support and funding ingenuity. Please take the time to enjoy our beautiful ariel community showcase video for the City of Aurora.

Vistas of Aurora

Whether you come to Aurora, you are treated to a charming view of a river town which is historic, yet constantly changing. The appealing panoramas of the many spires and 19th century buildings are punctuated by countless small details, both attractive and creative, that have been capturing people’s attention for over a century and a half. We hope after watching this slideshow you’ll want to walk the streets in our Historic District, looking for these and other sights which say “Welcome,” and “Stay awhile!”

New Businesses

The Mayor, Aurora City Council, Main Street Aurora, and Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce have welcomed the following new or re-opened businesses to Aurora with ribbon cuttings since December 2016.