Vacant Storefront Improvement Program - Business Assistance & Rental Rebate Grants
The Downtown Vitality Committee (DVC) provides the local match component of the Vacant Storefront Improvement Program. As such, we have a Business Assistance Grant Program and the Rent Rebate Grant Program to provide financial assistance to businesses and to stimulate investment in vacant or underutilized commercial space in the Town of Athol within its approved district.
This is a two step process for a business owner to be approved.
Step 1: First, the business owner must receive grant approval from the Downtown Vitality Committee.
Step 2: The business owner must then apply to the EACC with their Vacant Storefront Application. The Town already has an approved Municipal Vacant Storefront District from the EACC, which was approved on September 12, 2023.
AMOUNT OF FUNDING FOR VACANT STOREFRONT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM GRANTS:
The DVC will issue two grants (one Business Assistance Grant and one Rental Rebate Assistance Grant) between January 1, 2024 and until such time as one of each grant is provided to cover approved project costs up to $10,000. If the proposed funding project is for rental assistance, the DVC will issue rental assistance grants to businesses for up to 24 months).
METHOD OF FUNDING:
The DVC will select applications for funding and determine corresponding award amounts at one of its regularly scheduled meetings. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend this DVC meeting to discuss their project - failure to attend may result in the DVC not having a full grasp of the proposal and may result in a denial of your grant application.
The DVC scores applications according to the scoring rubrics for each grant program to help it determine what projects to fund. Please understand that the rubrics for each program are intended as a guide and that the DVC has final discretion regarding what applications to fund. This means that even if your project scores highly on the rubric, it might not get funded if the DVC finds a different project more compelling. If awarded funds, the applicant shall enter into a grant agreement with the Town of Athol. The approved applicant must then submit invoices and/or proof of payment to the Town, and the Town will directly pay the vendor or the applicant, as appropriate. If used for rental assistance, the Town will make a reimbursement payment to the applicant up to the amount approved, upon proof of payment of rent.
TIMING OF FUNDING:
Applications may be submitted at any time but at this time, the DVC considers and approves grants at its February and June 2024 meetings, which occur on the second Tuesday of the month at 6pm in Town Hall. Applicants should submit proposals at least three weeks before the aforementioned meeting. Within twenty business days of that deadline, staff will review the applications received for eligibility/completeness and communicate next steps to applicants. .
APPLICATIONS:
You may download the applications and submit a completed application and all supporting documentation electronically by email to Hmurphy@townofathol.org or drop off or mail in a hard paper copy to the Planning & Development Office at Town Hall.
Business Assistance Grant Program Application
Scoring Rubric for Business Assistance Grant Program
Rental Rebate Grant Program Application
Scoring Rubric for Rental Rebate Grant Program