WCNA Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program

Thank you for your interest in the West Central Neighborhood’s Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program. WCNA is excited to work with you to improve our historic neighborhood. Our purpose is to unite neighbors to build community, support our local entrepreneurs along Route 66, and promote West Central as a great place to live, work, and play.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Contact WCNA at rew1215@yahoo.com or 417-569-8866 to discuss your business’ eligibility.
Complete all information entirely and accurately on the application form. If any information is incomplete, the WCNA Board will request clarification or additional information, as applicable.
Each participating business must complete and submit, with this application, a Scope of Work form for eligible improvements to be completed. The WCNA Board will follow up as needed to clarify.
Provide “before” pictures of the areas where work is to be completed, for the Scope of Work. Digital pictures are preferred but printed pictures will also be accepted.
The applicant must return this application and supporting documentation to WCNA. Digital applications are preferred but paper applications will be accepted.
Approved applications will be eligible for up to $500 in matching reimbursement funds for curb appeal improvements. These funds are provided strictly as a reimbursement for documented expenses and are not a loan, an extension of credit, or a traditional upfront grant.

Application Period opens on Feb. 20, 2026. To ensure completion before the Route 66 Centennial on April 30, 2026, applications submitted by March 1, 2026, will receive priority review. Complete applications received electronically by the last business day of March 2026 will be considered while funding remains available.

Grant Awards Announced on a rolling basis. Notifications will be provided directly to the main contact via email or telephone, and letters of approval will go out via email.

Project Completion Deadline: To maximize impact for the neighborhood, improvements should be completed by the Route 66 Centennial (April 30, 2026). While WCNA generally allows ninety (90) days from the approval date for project completion, any projects specifically intended for the Centennial must be finished and "after" photos submitted by April 25, 2026.

HOW DOES THE WCNA MOTHER ROAD BUSINESS CURB APPEAL PROGRAM WORK?

The WCNA Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program works to strengthen our neighborhood businesses by helping them make exterior improvements.

Businesses along St. Louis Street/College Street from Kimbrough to Kansas Expressway are eligible. A dollar-for-dollar match, up to the $500.00 maximum, will be provided as an incentive to complete various, eligible exterior improvements. In no way are any amounts to be made available under this Curb Appeal Program a loan, a grant, or any other such forgivable loan, or other extension of credit by WCNA, and should at no time be held out as such.

Important Note: WCNA’s obligation to reimburse is subject to ongoing funding of the Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program. WCNA has the right to suspend the program and reimbursement obligations thereunder, including with respect to approved applications, if WCNA no longer has funding sufficient to operate the program. WCNA will notify applicants and participating business owners promptly upon any suspension of the program.

ELIGIBLE IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPENSES

Eligible Improvements

Exterior improvements visible from the street may be eligible for matching funds through the WCNA Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program. All improvements must improve the curb appeal of the properties along the St. Louis/College Street corridor from Kimbrough to Kansas Expressway. All participants shall comply with all applicable City of Springfield codes and secure any applicable building permits.

Storefront repair • Sidewalk and driveway repairs
Storefront construction • Landscaping with perennials or native plants
Storefront painting • Signage
Paint for siding and trim • Murals and public art
Exterior lights • Debris removal and disposal
Front doors • Flower boxes
Front windows • Route 66 storefront displays for the Centennial
Fence removal (note: new or replacement must be a decorative yard fence)

This is not a complete list. Other improvements and repairs may be eligible, as determined by the WCNA Board, in its sole discretion.

Eligible Expenses

Expenses eligible for reimbursement include the actual amount spent by the business owner for approved improvements, documented by paid invoices and receipts. This includes all hard costs for materials and labor expenses for hired, professional contractors. Reimbursement is not available for labor performed by the business owner, their employees, or the property owner. Donated labor or materials are not eligible for matching funds.

PROJECT ELIGIBILITY, SELECTION, AND REIMBURSEMENT

Project Eligibility

Business owners on the St. Louis/College corridor from Kimbrough to Kansas Expressway.
Each applicant must complete an application and then attach a Scope of Work form.
Grantees must participate in a Mother Road Block Party during the 2026 Birthplace of Route 66 Festival (details to be provided at a later date).
Each applicant must be the owner of the business.

Licenses and property taxes must be current for participating businesses.
Participating businesses must have a current business license with the City of Springfield.
The improvements to be made by each participating business must be eligible improvements for the WCNA Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program standards.
A complete application must be submitted and approved by WCNA prior to improvements being made. Costs expended before the team’s application is approved by WCNA are not eligible for reimbursement.
Applications that don’t meet these guidelines will be rejected and returned. The business owner will be given the opportunity to answer questions and revise their application. WCNA’s approval of an application does not guarantee reimbursement. Such reimbursement is subject to further compliance with program requirements.
Applications may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
In consideration of applications, and other Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program submissions, WCNA will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, sex, age, or familial status, or another protected class as identified under applicable law.

Reimbursement Process for Applications that are Accepted

Upon completion, each participating business owner will fill out a reimbursement request form provided by WCNA.
The participating business owners requesting reimbursement will submit that form to WCNA, along with all paid receipts and invoices for eligible improvements and expenses.
The participating business owners requesting reimbursement will also submit “after” pictures of the completed work for which reimbursement is sought.
Paperwork will be reviewed by the WCNA Board.
Business owners will be notified by the WCNA Board if there are any questions regarding the request for reimbursement or if additional information is necessary for review of the work or documentation.
Eligible expenses will be calculated based on documentation submitted and are otherwise subject to the maximum match amount and compliance with program requirements.
Upon the WCNA Board’s approval of a reimbursement request, in whole or in part, a check will be issued to the participating business owner at the address on file.

Until the WCNA Board determines an eligible business owner and their improvement(s) fully complies with all requirements of the Mother Road Business Curb Appeal Program, and WCNA provides a check for the applicable eligible match amounts to the participating business owner, no participating business owner is entitled to any program funds, whatsoever.