Grants and Loans

BOOST Grant Program
The Villa Rica Main Street Program is committed to making the most of our community’s unique sense of place by harnessing local economic opportunities and creating a supportive business environment that helps our small business owners and entrepreneurs build on their dreams by expanding economic opportunities.

Finding money to start or expand a business is very difficult and the Main Street Program wants to help make the process a little easier. The BOOST Program is designed to award financial assistance to Downtown Villa Rica business owners and entrepreneurs. Assistance granted through the BOOST program does not have to be repaid.

The BOOST program was created to provide grant money to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Main Street Service Area. The Economic Vitality Committee of the Main Street Advisory Board will meet to review and vote on grant requests. Downtown Business owners may apply for grant funding quarterly; however, the Committee reserves the right to award grants more or less frequently each calendar year. Grant awards are based on availability of funds with a minimum grant of $100 and a maximum award of $1,000. There is no matching funds requirement for the BOOST Grant.

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Facade Grant Program
The Villa Rica Downtown Development Authority has developed a new Façade Improvement Grant Program to encourage improvement and investment to the overall revitalization of the Central Business Districts. The program is designed to retain and attract desired businesses, strengthen the Central Business Districts, increase utilization of downtown buildings, restore economic vitality and enhance property values.

The program is intended to assist and attract projects that promote specialty retail shopping establishments and local on-chain restaurant ownership.

This program provides up to $5,000 in grant funds to finance exterior improvements to a property owner or tenant’s commercial building that will be aesthetically pleasing and complimentary to local design guidelines or concepts acceptable to the respective municipality. Facade Grant’s have a required 1 for 1 cash match.

The program is a reimbursement program and shall be administered on a first come first served basis, to the limit of available funding.

Facade Grant Application:

https://villarica.municipalcms.com/files/documents/FacadeImprovementGrantApplication1315043626011519PM.pdf

 

EIG Program: Exterior Improvement Grant Program
The Exterior Improvement Grant Program (EIGP) is a local economic development program designed to encourage physical improvements and commercial revitalization in the Villa Rica Central Business District.

The Villa Rica Main Street program understands and appreciates the positive impact that individual building rehabilitations can have on the longevity, structural stability, and overall appearance and quality of historic downtown buildings.

The Villa Rica Main Street Exterior Improvement Grant Program is designed to provide financial incentives to help preserve, restore, and rehabilitate the exterior features of buildings located within the Villa Rica Central Business Districts.

Under the program, property owners or business owners within the Central Business District are eligible to apply for grants up to $2,500. Funding through the EIG program does not require a cash match. Grant program compliance and the reimbursement of funds are overseen by the Villa Rica Main Street Office with final authority being granted by the Main Street Advisory Board.

https://villarica.municipalcms.com/files/documents/EIGProgramExteriorImprovementGrantProgram1317114954102518AM.pdf

 

Related imageGeorgia Cities Foundation Revolving Loan Fund
The Villa Rica Office of Downtown Development administers a loan pool sponsored by the Georgia Cities Foundation. The Foundation’s purpose is to assist cities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects in the form of a revolving loan fund (RLF). Currently, the Foundation provides loans up to $250,000 with a usual repayment period of 10 years, not to exceed 15 years. Eligible projects include: real estate acquisition, building rehabilitation, new construction, and green space and parks. The foundation was established in 1999 as a non-profit subsidiary of the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA). For more detailed information, please view the information listed on Georgia Cities Foundation RLF website or contact our office at 678-840-1160

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Image result for Georgia Department of Community Affairs Downtown Development Revolving Loan FundGeorgia Department of Community Affairs Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund (DD RLF)

The Department of Community Affairs (DCA) in conjunction with the Villa Rica Office of Downtown Development administers a Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund. DCA’s purpose is to assist cities, counties, and development authorities in their efforts to revitalize and enhance downtown areas by providing financial assistance at below market rates in the form of a revolving loan fund (RLF). The loan amount limits will generally be set at no more than $250,000 per project. The repayment period is typically 10 years with a 15 year amortization. For more detailed information on eligible and ineligible uses, please visit Georgia Department of Community Affairs Downtown Development Revolving Loan Fund website or contact our office at 678-840-1160

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