Business Assistance Programs

The Town of Manchester currently offers several small business assistance programs that aim to increase vibrancy and economic opportunity throughout the town.

Have questions or comments about the grant programs below? Take a moment to complete this Inquiry Form so that we can help!

 

Business Façade & Signage Improvement Grant Program

 Overview  

The Business Façade and Signage Improvement Fund Grant Program offers reimbursement grants to eligible Manchester small business owners to improve the exterior appearance of commercial and mixed-use buildings and signage.

 

Program Application(PDF, 287KB)

Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

 

Grant Funding Guidelines 

Examples of eligible expenses include but are not limited to:  

  • Exterior repairs and renovations on commercial storefronts and facades visible to public streets, alleys, parking, and pedestrian walkway areas in compliance with all relevant zoning regulations and design guidelines. 

  • Expenses incurred within three (3) months prior to submission of the application qualify with acceptable documentation evidencing incurrence or payment of these expenses. 

 

Grant Program Eligibility  

  • Small business owners within the town of Manchester or potential owners with a signed contingency agreement.

  • Independently owned and operated for a minimum of 10 years.    

  • Proof of negative financial impact during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

  • Located on arterial or collector road adjacent to a business zone. 

  • Grants require a dollar-for-dollar match by the applicant. 

 

Business Investment Fund Grant Program

 Overview 

The Business Investment Fund Grant Program offers reimbursable matching grants to eligible Manchester small business owners for projects that address code, access, energy efficiency, or sustainability improvements and promote enhanced use of underutilized space to add jobs, value, and economic vitality.

 

Application Deadline: October 1, 2024

 

Grant Funding Guidelines 

Acceptable code compliance expenses include the items below: 

  • Building Code compliance, including ADA accessibility improvements, structural repairs, elevators and lifts, and other egress requirements 

  • Health Code compliance, including hazardous material removal 

  • Fire Code compliance, including fire suppression systems and fire separation requirements 

 

Leasehold improvements intended to attract a transformative use to a vacant space are also eligible for this program, as are sustainability and/or energy efficiency projects.

Expenses incurred within three (3) months prior to the approval of the application qualify with acceptable documentation evidencing incurrence or payment of these expenses. 

 

Grant Program Eligibility  

  • Small business owners within the town of Manchester or potential owners with a signed contingency agreement  

  • Business must be independently owned and operated; LLC will be considered a business 

  • Grantees must show the business was negatively financially impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic 

  • Funds will be prioritized for existing multistory buildings 50 or more years old with proposed commercial, restaurant, industrial, mixed-use, or art-related uses 

Downtown 2020 Initiative (Extended)

Downtown 2020 is an initiative aimed at increasing vibrancy and economic opportunity Downtown through incentivizing transformational private development, lowering special district taxes, and achieving key public improvements.  This program has been extended and is still accepting applications. Click for November 2018 Presentation(PDF, 2MB)

No Interest Loan Program - The mission of the program is to promote economic development by partnering with owners to address contemporary code and access requirements in the designated Downtown District.  The goal of the fund is to financially assist transformative projects by focusing on addressing the code and/or access issues when it can be demonstrated that they are the primary barrier to expanded or enhanced use of the space that would add jobs, value, economic vitality, and taxable asset appreciation to the Downtown.

Tax Relief - The 2020 Initiative includes a reorganization of Town and Special Services District responsibilities, resulting in a reduction of the additional Downtown mill rate by approximately 3 mills.

Capital Projects: The Town has recently prioritized several transformational infrastructure improvements in the Downtown area.  These improvements are incorporated into one comprehensive Complete Streets project which can be viewed HERE

 

Loan Program Guidelines & Application(PDF, 610KB) (Extended)

Application Deadline: Ongoing

 

 

 

Contact the Planning & Economic Development Department for more information: planningdept@manchesterct.gov or 860-647-3044.