Invest Atlanta has launched the Small Business Improvement Grant program to support local
small businesses and commercial property owners located in seven of the City of Atlanta’s Tax Allocation
Districts (TADs) - Campbellton Road, Hollowell-ML King, Metropolitan Parkway, Perry Bolton, Eastside, Westside and Stadium Neighborhoods.

Tenants and commercial property owners are eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000 that can be used for both internal and external improvements. Vacant commercial properties may be eligible if the scope of improvements brings the property  to leasable condition, contact Markeena Novembre at mnovembre@investatlanta.com to determine eligibility.

Program Guidelines

• Campbellton Road TAD (Guidelines)
• Eastside TAD (Guidelines)
• Hollowell-ML King TAD (Guidelines)
• Metropolitan Parkway TAD (Guidelines)
• Perry Bolton TAD (Guidelines)
• Stadium Neighborhoods TAD (Guidelines)
• Westside TAD (Guidelines) 

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• Project must be less than 15,000 square feet.
• A minimum of 25% of funds must be used for exterior improvements.
• All exterior improvements must be visible from the public right-of-way.
• Eligible exterior improvements include: painting, lighting, windows, doors, framing, signage, canopies, awnings, gates, fencing, landscaping, building surface repairs, ground surface upgrades.
• Interior improvements should significantly enhance the customer and employee experience.
• Eligible interior improvements include: flooring, walls, ceilings, HVAC, water heaters, plumbing, electrical, and structural repairs to walls, floors, stairs, and interior doors.
• Certain soft costs, such as architectural and planning services, are eligible but shall not exceed 10% of grant amount.
• Awardees must provide a match equal to at least 10% of the grant award and demonstrate the project as proposed would not happen without the TAD grant assistance.

EXCLUSIONS

• New construction
• Properties owned or occupied by a government or public agency
• Properties used for residential purposes
• Churches and religious institution facilities (commercial buildings owned by churches or religious institutions are eligible)
• Operations, inventory, and other soft costs

Small Business Improvement Grant Application

How to Apply

1. Register in Neighborly -  Neighborly Portal

When you access the Portal for the first time, you’ll need to Register your account by clicking on the Register link. The registration process will create a username (which is your email address) and password that will be used for future logins. The email address you choose will also be used for system emails/notifications, so it is recommended to use your primary email address. For security purposes, the system will validate that you own the registered email address by sending an email with a validation link.  

2. Complete & Submit Preliminary Questionnaire

After logging into Neighborly, select ‘Small Business Improvement Grant Application’ and complete the preliminary questionnaire. Upon receiving a completed questionnaire, Invest Atlanta project managers will review and contact you with additional questions.  If the project is determined to be eligible for a funding program, you will be granted access to the Small Business Improvement Grant application.

3. Complete & Submit a Small Business Improvement Grant Application

Upon receipt of an application, Invest Atlanta staff will review the application for content and completeness. After a fully complete application has been reviewed for consistency with Invest Atlanta and programmatic goals, staff will analyze and evaluate the project. The project manager will contact you with any additional questions and to provide a timeline overview.