The City of Decatur and the Decatur Downtown Development Authority (DDA) have awarded roughly $55,000 to a selection of small businesses through the the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant (CFIG), Commercial Buildout Improvement Grant (CBIG), and Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant (MDCG) programs.
Introduced in 2023, the CFIG program supports projects focused on enhancing and beautifying storefronts. In this round of applications, the following six businesses received approval: Kelly’s Market, $11,000 to install new glass entrance doors and repaint its awning; Pichulik Properties, $7,795 for painting and maintenance of the historic Watkins Building; SwemSchool, $6,832 for the repainting of its façade and new signage; The Reading Room, $5,000 for a new mural; and Hell Yeah Gluten Free, $7,312 for new signage at its retail location.
The CBIG aims to reinforce the interior aspects of commercial buildings by repairing walls, constructing new internal spaces or making HVAC repairs and upgrades. Cereal Lab recieved $6,900 for upgrades to its restroom; Bleu Hanger recieved $4,000 for new flooring; and Montessori Academy of Decatur recieved $2,250 to increase the size of its restrooms.
The following two businesses received funding through MDCG to assist with the design and production of marketing materials and content for digital platforms. Lubell Consulting receiving $2,500 for a content audit and website redesign, and Montessori Academy of Decatur securing $750 to fund social media ad campaigns.
“As we have expanded our grant programs, there is a clear demand among our small business community to reinvest in themselves and grow stronger, an effort we are more than happy to support,” said Conor McNally, DDA chair. “We are excited to continue these programs on a quarterly basis and encourage more businesses to utilize these critical, targeted resources.”
All grants will cover 75% of the cost of any approved project, with the business owner covering the other 25%. The CFIG and CBIG will allow for minimum contributions from the DDA of $2,500 and a maximum of $10,000, while the MDCG will have a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $2,500 for approved projects. Once the window is closed, the DDA oversight committee reviews all submissions. If approved, the project must begin within six months and be completed within 18 months, consistent with the City of Decatur’s permitting process.
For more information on the grant programs and how to apply when the next window opens in August, visit this link.
A previous version of this article stated the incorrect amount of money allocated as $175,000. That has been updated to reflect the correct amount, $55,000.