City of Coon Rapids Opens 2026 Front Door Grant Program to Help Homeowners Boost Curb Appeal

COON RAPIDS, Minn.  - The City of Coon Rapids has opened applications for its 2026 Front Door Grant Program, a recurring city initiative designed to help homeowners invest in exterior improvements that enhance curb appeal, strengthen neighborhood aesthetics, and protect long term property values.

The program offers partial reimbursement for qualifying front facing home improvement projects and continues to use a lottery based system to ensure equal access to limited funding. Applications are now being accepted through Wednesday, February 25, 2026, according to official city program guidelines.

A Lottery Based Approach to Neighborhood Investment

Rather than awarding grants on a first come basis, the City will select recipients through a random lottery scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The drawing is expected to be broadcast live on CTN 799 and streamed on the City’s official YouTube and Facebook channels.

All applicants will be notified of their status, whether selected or waitlisted, by email and U.S. mail within a few days of the drawing.

City officials say the lottery approach helps ensure fairness and broad participation across neighborhoods, particularly in years when demand exceeds available funds.

Grant Amounts and Homeowner Contribution

The Front Door Grant Program does not fully reimburse project costs. Instead, it covers a portion of eligible expenses.

Grant awards range from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the scope and type of work completed. To qualify for the minimum grant amount, homeowners must commit at least $4,000 of their own funds toward the project.

These grants are not loans and do not need to be repaid, provided all program requirements are met and the approved work is completed as outlined.

Eligible Projects and Reimbursement Rates

To qualify, every application must include at least one project from the City’s Beautification category, which is reimbursed at a higher rate.

Beautification Projects, reimbursed at 25 percent, include:

• Replacement of front doors, storm doors, or garage doors
• Adding stone, brick, or decorative shakes to the front facade
• Construction of a covered front porch or decorative columns
• Permanent landscaping with a minimum project cost of $500
• Driveway or sidewalk repair or replacement
• Installation of shutters, window boxes, or fencing

Applicants may also include Basic Projects, which are reimbursed at 15 percent, but only if paired with a Beautification project. These include:

• Roofing, siding, or gutter replacement
• Exterior painting
• Window replacement
• Chimney repair or tuck pointing

All work must be visible from the street facing the home.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the lottery, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The property must be a one to four unit residential building, including single family homes, townhomes, twin homes, or condominiums
• The home must be owner occupied and have homestead status with Anoka County
• The property’s estimated market value must be below $400,000, based on county records
• Property taxes must be current
• The project must not be part of an insurance claim or another city grant program such as Home for Generations

Homeowners who received a Front Door Grant between 2019 and 2025 are not eligible to apply this year. However, residents who applied in previous years but were not selected are encouraged to reapply.

How to Apply and Additional Financing

Applications must be submitted through the Coon Rapids Online Permit Portal. Residents are required to create an account, select their property, and choose the Front Door Grant Program from the application menu.

For homeowners needing assistance with remaining project costs, the City notes that low interest financing options may be available through the Center for Energy and Environment, depending on eligibility.

Residents with questions about the program can contact the Housing Department at 763 767 6517 or visit the official program page on the City’s website.

City officials say the program reflects a continued commitment to neighborhood stability and reinvestment, encouraging residents to make improvements that benefit both individual households and the broader Coon Rapids community.

MinneapoliMedia