The City of Atchison is pleased to offer a new economic development program focused on enticing new small business and real estate development activity in the Atchison community. The Development Microgrant Program offers reimbursement grants for planning and pre-construction expenses incurred during the early stages of small business and real estate development projects.
"We're trying to create an environment that is friendly to small business development here in Atchison," said Assistant City Manager Justin Pregont. "It can be expensive to figure out whether a new small business venture is feasible. Architects, engineers, etc. can be cost prohibitive, especially in the very early stages of evaluating a business idea. This program is designed to offer grants that offset those early expenses and keep projects moving forward."
The Development Microgrant Program will be administered through the Economic Development Advisory Group. The City has budgeted $15,000 toward the program this year with the possibility of more funds in the future depending on the program’s success.
USE OF FUNDS
- Professional Services / Planning
- Feasibility study / business plan consultant
- Production of “as-built” or existing condition building plans
- Preliminary architecture or engineering work
- Historic listing nomination or historic preservation consultant services
- Real estate appraiser / surveyor services
- Grant writing services
- Environmental evaluations or testing
- Other elements of due diligence in project planning and development
TERMS
- Grant awards will not exceed 50% funding of the scope of work and fee being undertaken.
- Grant awards will not exceed $2,500 for any individual project.
- Grant funds will not be awarded for a scope of work that has already been completed.
- Grant funds will be dispersed to awardees upon completion of the project and submittals proving that all services have been fully paid for. Development Microgrants is a reimbursement grant program.
- The work product resulting from awarded funds must be shared with the City of Atchison upon completion and prior to grant reimbursement.
To learn more about the Development Microgrant Program, contact Justin Pregont with the City of Atchison at justinp@cityofatchison.com or 913-367-5506.