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Signage and lighting improvements can now be funded through the Portland Development Commission‘s .

The PDC Board of Commissioners yesterday approved an ordinance that collapsed the Signage and Lighting Improvements Program (SLIP) into the Storefront Improvements Program.

Previously, the PDC would only cover 60 percent of an applicant’s match for signage and lighting improvements, up to $12,000. But now that these types of improvements fall under the Storefront Improvements Program, the PDC will match 75 percent of the applicant’s match with a $20,000 matching limit.

Dana Deklyen, manager of the Storefront Improvements Program, said staff had originally separated the two in order to promote storefront and lighting improvements. But the limited match amount had actually deterred people from using it, she said.

“It just doesn’t make sense to process the same paperwork twice when the people that are using the storefront grants are also using SLIP,” she said.

The Storefront Improvements Program provides cash grants and technical assistance to business and property owners in neighborhoods that fall into one of Portland’s urban renewal areas. Recipients can use the support for structural and façade improvements.