One of WDDC's key goals is to help attract investment in Downtown. To help meet this goal, the following provides an overview of incentive programs geared to small business development and investment projects in Downtown. Financial incentives include:

1. Tenant Improvement Grant Fund: This program awards up to $5,000 in matching grant funds to any property or business owner to pay costs associated with renovating or preparing ground floor retail/commercial space for occupancy. The program is geared to stimulate new investment in older, Downtown properties and attract or retain new businesses and jobs.

Eligible grant expenditures include interior demolition or site preparation costs as part of a comprehensive renovation project, permanent building improvements such as flooring, walls, lighting, restrooms, electrical wiring, cooking vents and hoods and other similar permanent features, improvements to meet Fire and Life Safety codes and/or Americans with Disability Act requirements, exterior improvements including signs, painting or other improvements to the outside of a building.

TI Grant Fund Program is limited. For additional information contact Ann Keefer at 507 E. Douglas or phone 264.6005.

2. Relocation Grant Program: This program awards grant funds up to $2,500 to any tenant or property owner to pay costs associated with relocating a business from outside the downtown area to inside the WDDC boundaries (Central to Kellogg and McLean to Washington). Funds may be used by existing businesses that are expanding into new space in the center city or by businesses new to the center city.

Eligible expenditures include relocation (moving) expenses. Relocation and connection costs related to office equipment including computers, telephone, copy machines and similar items. Only new tenatns moving to the central business district or exisiting downtown tenants increasing the physical size of their location can qualifty for funding.

Relocation Grant funds are limited. For additional information contact Ann Keefer at 507 E. Douglas or phone 264.6005.

Maximum grant award is $2,500 per business relocation.

3. Housing Grant Program: This program awards matching grant funds to any property owner to pay costs associated with renovating or preparing space for market rate, residential use or occupancy. Funds may be used to convert space formerly used for warehouse, office, retail, restaurant or other similar uses into apartments and condominiums within the center city. Property owners must match HDF grant funds on a 1:1 ratio ($1 private sector funds is matched by $1 of HDF funds).

The maximum grant award is $5,000 for one (1) housing unit developed. If multiple units are developed in a building, the maximum grant award is $10,000 for any one building.

Eligible grant expenditures include:Interior demolition or site preparation costs as part of a comprehensive renovation project; permanent building improvements such as flooring, walls, lighting, commodes, sinks, electrical wiring, cabinets, cooking vents and other similar permanent features; improvements to meet Fire and Life Safety codes and/or Americans with Disability Act requirements; architectural, engineering and legal services as part of a comprehensive project; and, exterior improvements including windows, decks, signs, painting or other improvements to the outside of a building as part of a comprehensive project.

Grants cannot be used for: land acquisition; housing units developed by constructing a new building; refurbishing existing housing units as vacancies occur to help attract new tenants; pppliances such stoves, refrigerators, washer and/or dryer, ceiling fans, etc.; furniture such as tables, chairs, couches, art work and other similar fixtures; and, renovations to support office, retail or similar commercial use.

HDF Grant funds are limited. For additional information contact Ann Keefer at 507 E. Douglas or phone 264.6005.

4. Landscaping Grant Program: This pilot program will award funds to any property or business owner to pay costs associated with landscaping surface parking lots and other publicly viewed areas in Downtown.

Property owners must match LGP grant funds on a 1:1 ratio ($1 private sector funds is matched by $1 of LGP funds). The maximum grant award is $10,000 for any one property.

Eligible grant expenditures include: trees, shrubs, flowers and other plant materials; landscaping the perimeter area of a surface parking lot between the sidewalk or public right-of-way and the lot; landscaping the interior of a surface parking lot with planting islands or peninsulas; removing paving to install interior landscaping features such as curbs or hardscape materials to designate the interior landscape area; perimeter screening of a surface parking lot may include fences, walls and berms. Fences or walls must be semi-opaque or otherwise 'visually friendly' to allow limited views into the lot. Fences or walls can be decorative masonry, brick, stucco, wrought iron or combination of materials provided the surfaces are finished for exterior use. Permanent irrigation for all landscape materials that will keep plants healthy and promote water conservation including prevention of run-off and overspray. Funds can also be used for screener dumpsters, mechanical equipment and other similar items.

Prohibited grant expenditures include: installing only limited ground cover such as grass; chain link, split rail, barbed wire or any temporary fences; solid wood or masonry fencing adjacent to the street greater than 5 feet in height; planting areas exclusively composed of flowering plants that must be replaced annually; movable planter boxes designed to sit on sidewalks or in front of buildings; planting areas that fail to provide for easy and ongoing irrigation.

Landscaping Grant funds are limited. For additional information contact Ann Keefer at 507 E. Douglas or phone 264.6005.