Abilene's $65,000 Business Grant Program

 

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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