BATAVIA – The Batavia City Council on Monday approved changes to the city’s facade and downtown improvement grant program.

“There will be a lot tougher screening for applicants,” 7th Ward Alderman Dave Brown said.

As part of the changes to the facade grant program, the property owner must be a co-applicant with any business requesting assistance. The changes also include a “claw-back” provision where if the owner sells the building within a specified period, a portion of the grant would be refunded to the city. The city is proposing a three-year period, with 100 percent refunded within the first year, 66 percent within the second year, and 33 percent within the third year.