Commercial Buildout Improvement Grants

Program Overview

The Commercial Buildout Improvement Grant aims to enhance the interiors of commercial buildings in Downtown Decatur. This program benefits various business types, such as retail, restaurants, bakeries, and breweries, by improving their interior spaces. The program offers the opportunity for approved business owners to receive a reimbursement, in the form of a grant. The maximum CBIG participation is $10,000, and the minimum participation is $2,500. The program will provide a 75/25 matching grant, with 75% of the project expenses reimbursed through the CBIG program, up to $10,000, and 25% of expenses incurred by the applicant. The DDA will reimburse back to the applicant after all necessary project expense documents have been submitted and approved by the program review committee. Project must be started within six months of grant approval and completed within 18 months of grant approval. The grants will be limited to 10 per year to conserve funds for larger projects.

The grant awardees and their proposed projects must meet certain eligibility criteria and commit to specific funding requirements as a result of the award.
 

Applicant Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicant must be a City of Decatur business or commercial property owner who meets these criteria:

  • The business or commercial property must be located in the City of Decatur.
  • The business or commercial property owner has paid all appropriate taxes, fees and other assessments, including property taxes, business license fees, occupation taxes, ad valorem taxes.
  • No outstanding judgments against the business or commercial property (owner).
  • No current proceedings in bankruptcy instituted by or against the business or property owner and no current assignment by the business or commercial property for the benefit of creditors.
  • No state or federal tax liens currently pending against the business or the commercial property.
  • Financial ability to commit matching grants
  • For the purpose of receiving the grant, a small business is a business that operates no more than three stores in the state of Georgia and has no more than 25 employees, and further qualifies under these criteria:
    • Retail and restaurant: Annual receipts do not exceed $3.5 million
    • Personal and professional services: Annual receipts do not exceed $3.5 million

 

Eligible Scopes of Work 

These project types are eligible for consideration for the CBIG:

  • Wall improvement/repair
  • Floor improvement/repair
  • Ceiling improvement/repair
  • HVAC installation/repair
  • Sprinkler system installation/improvement
  • Fire alarm system improvement
  • Plumbing repair/replacement
  • Grease trap replacement

 

Grant Review Committee

The Development Authority appoints a Grant Review Committee comprising:

  • Two representatives from the DDA board
  • One representative from the Historic Preservation Commission
  • The Business Development Manager for the City of Decatur
  • The Historic Preservation Planner for the City of Decatur

The Grant Review Committee establishes qualifying criteria and standards for grant applicants, requirements for applications and documentation submissions, and makes recommendations to the DDA board for final action of grant applications. It also establishes oversight and on-going submission obligations for each grantee. The committee meets quarterly to review requests for grant applications. 

 

Grant Review Procedures

The committee grant review procedures include:

  1. Proposals being considered for funding must be submitted by the 15th of the month before the beginning of a quarter in which the Grant Review Committee will meet.
  2. The applicant must complete and submit a CBIG application with all supporting documentation, as required by the committee. The Business Development Manager confirms that submission is complete and that the applicant meets eligibility criteria prior to further review by the committee.
  3. The committee reviews each application for qualifying project criteria, and in the case of rejection provides a written reason to the applicant.
  4. The committee provides a recommendation of approval for qualifying projects to the DDA board for final action.
  5. The Business Development Manager notifies each applicant in writing of the final action taken by the DDA board.

 

Qualifying Project Criteria

  • Project feasibility: The project must be realistic and based on market conditions.
  • Project compliance: The project must meet local codes and design standards, including treatment of any historic building materials, and must secure necessary permits.
  • Project scope: The project must improve the internal space of the property to the benefit of the current tenant as well as future tenants. If the project will only benefit the current tenant, the existing business / grant recipient must remain open in the location for a period of at least two years from receipt of grant funds. If the applicant closes or sells the business prior to the two years, the applicant must pay back funds to the Decatur Development Authority at a prorated amount based upon the difference of the date of closure or sale from 24 months.

 

Application

Click here to apply.

Available 8 am, Apr. 1, 2024 through 5 pm, Apr. 21, 2024.

 

Questions?

Please contact Shirley Baylis, Business Development Manager, City of Decatur.

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