CITY OF BRENHAM OPENS LIFE SAFETY GRANT APPLICATIONS FOR DOWNTOWN PROPERTY OWNERS
The City of Brenham and Brenham City Council have authorized an additional year of funding for the Life Safety Grant Program for downtown property owners.
Applications are now open for the program, which was originally adopted in December 2025 with the goals of bringing vacant and underutilized spaces back into productive use and incentivizing continued investment in downtown.
Properties located within the Historic Downtown District may apply for matching grant funds to reimburse eligible improvements required by International Fire Code and Texas Accessibility Standards. Eligible projects may include fire alarm systems, fire suppression systems, fire escapes, means of egress, accessibility improvements, and other qualifying life-safety upgrades.
Successful applicants may receive reimbursement on a dollar-for-dollar matching basis, up to $60,000 per property. The city’s 2026-27 Fiscal Year budget includes $120,000 for the grant program, and the program is projected to continue in subsequent fiscal years.
Applications must provide at least two bids for each proposed improvement. A city staff panel will review applications and forward recommendations to the city council for final consideration.
A pre-application meeting is required before submitting an application. Property owners can schedule a meeting with City of Brenham Development Services to review grant guidelines, discuss potential projects, and determine whether proposed improvements may qualify for funding.
Applications are due October 30th by 5 p.m. and can be downloaded at https://downtownbrenham.com. They can be submitted to the Development Services office or via email to Development Services Director Stephanie Doland at sdoland@cityofbrenham.org.