Commercial property owners along Sachse's Highway 78 corridor can apply for matching grants covering up to 75% of exterior improvement costs, with a maximum award of $25,000 per project.
The Sachse Economic Development Corporation (EDC) is running the program, branded "Renovate 78," to encourage physical upgrades along the city's busiest commercial stretch. More than 49,000 vehicles pass through the corridor daily, according to the EDC's website.
Eligible improvements include signage, façade updates, exterior painting, landscaping, parking lot work, demolition and other site and infrastructure upgrades. Interior remodels do not qualify.
For example, a business owner planning a $33,000 exterior renovation could receive the full $25,000 grant and pay roughly $8,000 out of pocket.
Apply before you build
Business owners must submit a completed application and receive approval before any project work begins. The city will not reimburse costs retroactively.
The EDC describes the practical sequence as: identify desired improvements, obtain cost estimates, complete the application, get approval, then start construction.
Limited funding, no stated deadline
The program has limited funding, though the EDC has not published a total pool size or a specific application deadline.
The grant program operates within Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #3, which the Sachse City Council established on Oct. 18, 2021, through Ordinance 4035. Under the TIRZ, the city and Collin County each contribute 50% of their tax increment to a reinvestment fund for 30 years.
The corridor has seen recent commercial activity, Sachse Journal reported. Huckleberry's Breakfast and Lunch opened at the Bunker Hill Retail Center, and Behavioral Innovations, an applied behavior analysis therapy provider, opened at 7200 Hwy 78.
Sachse City Council Place 5 member Lindsay Buhler promoted the program on Facebook, encouraging business owners to check eligibility and apply.
Business owners with questions can contact the Sachse economic development team at [email protected] or 469-929-6706. Full program guidelines are posted on the Sachse EDC website.
