[Durham INC] Durham Seeks Retail and Professional Services Grant Applicants

[Blalock, Amy]

CITY OF DURHAM

Office of Public Affairs

101 City Hall Plaza

Durham, NC 27701

 

 

News Release

 

For Details, Contact:

Amy Blalock

Sr. Public Affairs Specialist

(919) 560-4123 x 11253

(919) 475-7735 (cell)

Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov

 

 

 

 

For Immediate Release: May 12, 2011

 

 

 

Durham Seeks Applicants for Retail and Professional Services Grant
Program

June 13 Deadline to Submit Applications for Grant Opportunity 

 

DURHAM, N.C. - Business owners interested in improving their prospects
for doing business as retailers or providing professional services in
downtown Durham should take note of another round of funding now
available through the City of Durham.

 

The City's Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD) is now
accepting applications for the Retail and Professional Services Grant
Program, formerly known as the Merchandise-Based Incentive Grant
Program. OEWD's Retail and Professional Services Grant, specifically
targeted for the Downtown Development Tier, will provide economic
development incentives to eligible projects that support the creation,
retention, or expansion of businesses within this tier.  

 

In order to be eligible for this grant, the project property must be a
street-level retail business, restaurant, or a certain professional or
personal services business including, but not limited to, law firms,
architectural firms, financial services firms, childcare centers, or
beauty salons. The applicant must be the owner of the property or have a
fully signed lease and a letter of approval from the property owner
supporting the proposed improvements. The business must be open at least
five days a week, eight hours a day. Organizations that are not eligible
to apply are religious organizations; government agencies or offices;
businesses or private clubs that exclude minors as patrons; and
residential projects.

 

Grant recipients are eligible to receive up to $15,000 in matching funds
from the City for a project that meets eligibility criteria and scores
high enough in the competitive evaluation process. Only funds spent on
work performed after City approval of the grant are eligible for
reimbursement. Eligible expenses include, but are not limited to,
security systems, telephone systems, point-of-sale equipment, kitchen
equipment, millwork, built-in display furnishings and shelving, HVAC,
coolers, plumbing, demolition, flooring, grease traps, sprinkler
systems, electrical, installation of walls, package and labeling
equipment, and similar items.

 

To assist applicants with identifying whether proposed projects are
located within the Downtown Development Tier, a state-of-the-art mapping
application has been developed by the City's Geographic Information
Systems' Division. The application is available on the City's website at
http://gisweb.durhamnc.gov/durhammaps/oewd/viewer/index.html. 

 

The deadline to apply for the grant is Monday, June 13, 2011, by 12 p.m.
All efforts will be made to evaluate and determine funding requests
within 45 days of the submission deadline. The City anticipates
notifying applicants of their award status by Monday, July 18, 2011.  

 

For a complete description of the grant application guidelines,
application process, and mapping application visit the City's website at
www.DurhamEconomicDevelopment.org. Interested applicants for proposed
projects within the Downtown Development Tier may also contact Joy
Mickle-Walker, coordinator of Downtown Development & Marketing with the
City's OEWD, via e-mail at Joy.Mickle-Walker at DurhamNC.gov or by phone at
(919) 560-4965, ext. 15208. 

 

About the Office of Economic and Workforce Development

The City of Durham's Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD)
implements a comprehensive and responsive business development strategy
that supports business formation, retention, expansion, relocation, and
employment opportunities created by the business development strategy.
OEWD also works with community partners to ensure that Durham residents
have opportunities to be placed and retained in these employment
opportunities. To learn more, visit the City's website at 
www.DurhamEconomicDevelopment.org. 

 

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