This grant program offers financial assistance in the form of a 50% matching reimbursable grant to the commercial property owner or business owner for eligible expenses associated with the construction or renovation of commercial space. Examples of items eligible for funding under the program are:

The grant is divided into three tiers of eligibility. Businesses are classified into tiers based on the type of business, which then determines the amount of eligible funding.

• Tier One Businesses are eligible for the maximum amount of grant funding which is $50,000 and must be one of the following businesses: restaurant, bakery, gourmet food market, hotel/motel/bed and breakfast

• Tier Two Businesses are eligible for a maximum amount of $25,000 and must be one of the following businesses: professional office, fitness facility, specialty retail, boutique, hair/nail salon, take-out restaurants, auto service facilities, florists.

• Tier Three Businesses (must be for commercial façade or security improvements) are eligible for a maximum amount of $15,000 and must be one of the following businesses: pawn shop, liquor store, kava tea bars, laundry/dry cleaner facility. 

Design Funding: Tier One and Tier Two businesses are eligible to apply for funding assistance related to the design fees for architectural, electrical, civil, mechanical and/or plumbing improvements. Applicants are eligible to receive reimbursement of 50% of the applicant's project budget up to a maximum amount of $10,000 for the design expenses. This funding is in addition to the Tier One and Tier Two property improvements described above.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY:

• Commercial Business must be located within the BBCRA boundaries (view CRA Map)
• Applicant must have a credit score of 601 or higher with no history of bankruptcy
• Must own the the commercial property OR have at least a 2 year lease remaining
• For-profit