Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/137824
It's the Right Time To Look Downtown! With the adoption of the new Renaissance Plan, this is the time to look at opening a business downtown. Through the City's Community Development Department, programs are offered including the following: Business Assistance Loan Program This program is available to small businesses investing anywhere within the City limits of Fayetteville. It offers assistance with gap ¿QDQFLQJ RU GRZQ SD\PHQW DVVLVWDQFH 7KH EXVLQHVV RZQHU ZRXOG ¿UVW PDNH DSSOLFDWLRQ WR D bank for a primary loan and after being approved DQG LGHQWLI\LQJ D JDS LQ ¿QDQFLQJ FDQ DSSO\ 7KH City will consider a loan up to $125,000 or 25% of the total loan funds needed. Due to the additional costs associated with renovating a building in the downtown historic district, loans may be considered up to $200,000. Façade Improvement Grant Program This program encourages downtown businesses as well as those located within any of the other City redevelopment plan areas to improve the exteriors of their commercial property. Improvements may include, but are not limited to new signage, awnings, painting, new doors and windows and other improvements that improve the property exterior. The City will provide a 50% matching reimbursement grant up to a maximum of $5,000 for each project. Small Business Retention Grant Program This program is designed to assist with the expansion costs of small businesses with the objective of retaining businesses in the City's redevelopment plan areas, including the downtown plan area. The City of Fayetteville will provide a 50% matching reimbursement grant up to $5,000 for eligible expenses to include property improvements and select equipment purchases and upgrades. Welcome Park View! Ground has been broken at the new housing development Park View at 301 Bragg Boulevard, across from NC Veterans Park and the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. A six phase project, this development will include 47 new townhomes and condos with a beautiful view and in walking distance of all of the shops and restaurants downtown! For more information or to view a scale PRGHO \RX FDQ DOVR YLVLW WKH + + +RPHV 3DUN 9LHZ RI¿FH DW 300 Hay six days a week. Urban Progress Zones This incentive program provides economic incentives to stimulate new investment and job creation in economically distressed areas. The designation of these zones offers an enhancement to the Article 3J state tax credits that are available to eligible taxpayers. The City of Fayetteville has 11 Urban Progress Zones and three within the Fayetteville Renaissance Plan area that are effective beginning January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2013. HubZone Empowerment Contracting Program $ +XE=RQH LV GH¿QHG DV D KLVWRULFDOO\ XQGHUXWLOL]HG business zone. This program stimulates economic development and creates jobs by providing Federal contracting preferences to small businesses located in distressed areas. Cumberland County has eight census tracts that qualify as HubZones, all but one being located within the City limits of Fayetteville. Business Development The City contracts with the CEED Women's Business Center to assist with the development and nurturing of small businesses. The Women's Business Center guides both start up and expanding small businesses through the process with one-on-one counseling, business plan assistance, workshops and training and loan packaging. For more information on these programs, please contact Michelle Haire, Economic Development Administrator, at 433-1596. If you have other questions about opening up your business downtown, including other funding sources, commercial or residential spaces and more small business resources, feel free to call the Downtown 'HYHORSPHQW RI¿FH DW Calendar of Events June 21 – Fayetteville after Five, Fayetteville Dogwood Festival, www.faydogwoodfestival.com June 22 - The Little Gym 5K Run/Walk The Little Gym, www.facebook.com/tlgfayetteville June 28 – 4th Friday (Scavenger hunt!), Arts Council and Downtown Alliance, www.theartscouncil.com June 28 – 2SHUDWLRQ &HDVH¿UH 0RYLH 1LJKW )HVWLYDO 3DUN 2SHUDWLRQ &HDVH¿UH KWWSFHDVH¿UHFLID\HWWHYLOOHQFXV Through June 29 – 1& )LHOG RI +RQRU Fayetteville Downtown Alliance and Airborne DQG 6SHFLDO 2SHUDWLRQV 0XVHXP ZZZQF¿HOGRIKRQRUFRP 'RZQWRZQ )DUPHU¶V 0DUNHW DQG &LW\ 0DUNHW DW WKH 0XVHXP HYHU\ :HGQHVGD\ DQG 6DWXUGD\ JAMI SHEPPARD McLAUGHLIN, Downtown Development Manager jmclaughlin@ci.fay.nc.us www.visitdowntownfayetteville.com www.facebook.com/downtownfayetteville The City of Fayetteville, NC does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, age, national origin, religion, or disability in its employment opportunities, programs, services, or activities. Put Up & Coming Weekly's Pocket Guide In Your Pocket! Fayetteville, Ft. Bragg & Cumberland County's "First Responder®" for local information & hospitality! By scanning the QR code you will be saving the 2013 Pocket Guide directly to your Smart Device for easy 24/7 access to local information. This is NOT an APP. This is an Adobe pdf file that is best viewed with Acrobat Reader. For more information call 484-6200 or visit www.upandcomingweekly.com. WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM SCAN THE CODE! JUNE 19-25, 2013 UCW 19