Commercial Revitalization Grants

The Storefront Activation Grant is designed to provide targeted financial incentives to increase the vitality of the neighborhood commercial corridors. The funds will assist in recruiting new businesses to vacant commercial/retail tenant spaces in commercial buildings.

The Storefront Activation Grant will make available a new business development incentive to commercial tenants, building owners and developers. This incentive will offer reimbursable grant funds up to $10 per square foot with a maximum grant in the amount of $25,000. The grant may not exceed 50% of the total eligible project costs.

The Storefront Activation Grant cannot be combined with the Retail Investment Fund.

Retail Investment Fund (RIF) Program

The Retail Investment Fund (RIF) is limited to funding retail development projects, located in neighborhood business districts. These businesses cannot be home-based.

The size of a RIF grant is determined by the size of the project, private investment, and job creation. The grant amount is calculated as the lesser of $5,000 per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) job created or 20% of eligible costs. In either case, the maximum grant allowed through the RIF program is $50,000. A start-up business will be considered to create at least one full-time equivalent or FTE job (the entrepreneur) as well as any additional jobs. The expansion of an existing business shall be fundable only if additional jobs, beyond those in existence at the time of application, are created by the grantee.

The RIF program is a reimbursement program. The grantee will be reimbursed for eligible pre-approved grant related expenses. Grant funds cannot be disbursed until all conditions of the grant contract have been fulfilled, including job creation.

The Retail Investment Fund cannot be combined with the Storefront Activation Grant.

Catalytic Development Grant

Eligible major rehabilitation or new construction initiatives ($5 million or more) that involve the buildout of first-floor spaces with active (non-residential) uses, located within the Tax Incremental District #59 (or within the half-mile radius), may be eligible for a highter level of funding. Please review the program guidelines here. The project must be "shovel-ready" to be considered for an award under this program.

Facade and Alternative Customer Entrance (FACE) Grant

VIA Community Development Corporation (VIA) and the City of Milwaukee's Department of City Development (DCD) - Commercial Corridor Team (CCT) have partnered to support small business resilience during the upcoming reconstruction of National Avenue through the implementation of the Facade and Alternative Customer Entrance (FACE) Grant program. If you have already met with VIA and are ready to apply, then please access the application here: https://fs27.formsite.com/nC8HPa/txffehvbpk/index