City of Abilene Continues Business Investment Grant Program
Total of $65,000 Available for Grants to Businesses, Entrepreneurs
The City of Abilene, Kansas authorized the second year of
the Business Investment Grant Program to promote economic growth and investment
in the community. The Economic Development Council will have about $65,000 to
award to businesses and entrepreneurs in the City to start or grow business
ventures.
The program is funded with $56,000 from the City’s General
Fund and an $11,000 grant from the Community Foundation of Dickinson County.
The program, which was first piloted in 2014, provided grants to six businesses
in Abilene to assist with startup and/or expansion costs. The City Commission
allocated a portion of sales tax growth to provide a sustainable source of
revenue for the program’s continuation.
“The Abilene Business Investment Grant Program has provided
a mechanism for the City to encourage and participate in the economic growth of
the community,” says Mayor Brenda Finn Bowers. “The continuation of the program
will no doubt continue to play a role in Abilene’s ongoing growth.”
The Economic Development Council recommended several changes
to the program to improve upon last year’s efforts. The program will include a
voluntary preapplication conference to provide an opportunity for interested
parties to learn more about the process and the requirements of submitting an
application. The preapplication conference is scheduled for 5:30 pm on April
28, 2015, and will be held in the Commission Chambers at the Abilene Public
Library.
In addition, applicants will be required to provide a
thorough plan for the project and will also be required to provide progress
reports and a final report to the Economic Development Council and City
Commission. Reporting will allow the program to be monitored by the City and
will also allow the public to better track the progress and success of it.
“Economic investment is an essential part of any community,”
says City Manager David Dillner. “Any public program that assists with private
investment must be able to show how the funds were spent and what end it
accomplished. Improved reporting will allow the grantees to demonstrate the
success of the program to the public by accounting for progress of the
program’s implementation.”
The Abilene Business Investment Program will begin accepting
applications on June 1, 2015. More information about this program will be
available on the City’s website at www.abilenecity hall.com/BIG. Interested
businesses and entrepreneurs are encouraged to attend the preapplication
conference scheduled for 5:30 pm on April 28, 2015 at the Abilene Public
Library. Questions regarding the program may be directed to City Manager David
Dillner at (785) 2632550.
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