City Program Offers Up to $10,000 Grants to Help Arlington Businesses Remove and Replace Nonconforming Pole Signs

By Susan Schrock, Office of Communication

Posted on March 12, 2024, March 12, 2024

The City of Arlington continues to offer an incentive program designed to reduce visual clutter along busy thoroughfares and enhance the community’s appearance by helping businesses remove and replace their non-conforming pole signs.

Applications are open for the Commercial Signage Improvement Program, which will provide qualifying business owners or property owners a grant of up to $10,000 to reimburse the pole sign removal costs and the installation of a new sign that conforms with sign standards outlined in the City’s Unified Development Code. The Arlington City Council approved the creation of this program, which is open to any commercial business within the city, in May 2023.

The Tin Cup, 1025 W. Abram St., was the first business to remove its pole sign through the program. Co-owner Damon Carney said the restaurant had plans for years to update the sign, which was in place before The Tin Cup opened 20 years earlier. Thanks to the incentive program, the restaurant has a new, modern sign attached to its front wall.

“A lot of people saw our pole sign and thought we were some sort of antique store because it was so old and rusted,” Carney said. “We are very happy with our new sign. It’s much cleaner.”

Abram Street, which has more than 61 pole signs, is the corridor the City is primarily focusing on but applications can be submitted for consideration from any business location. The dilapidated pole sign at the High Tech Transmission business at 111 N. Collins St. was also updated through the program.

Funding for this pilot program is limited and grants will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis for eligible participants. A complete Commercial Signage Improvement Program application must be submitted to determine the eligibility of each applicant.

Click here for more information and to download a Commercial Signage Improvement Program application.