Decatur grants cash to beautify, upgrade 13 downtown businesses

Several well-known businesses stand to benefit from upgrades as the City of Decatur takes another step toward making its celebrated downtown a more inviting urban place.

As construction inches closer on the Historic Decatur Square overhaul that is the Town Center 2.0 Plan, city officials have approved $116,000 that could make a noticeable difference for 13 businesses near the square, from both aesthetic and functionality standpoints. 

The funding is part of an ongoing, post-pandemic effort by the City of Decatur and Decatur Downtown Development Authority to help boost local small businesses.

The three categories for financial awards are: Commercial Facade Improvement Grants, Commercial Buildout Improvement Grants, and Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grants. The DDA oversight committee picks which applicants received funding. 

Grants cover up to 75 percent of renovation project costs, and selected Decatur business owners have vowed to cover the rest. 

The businesses selected must begin projects within six months and finish them within 18 months, which is consistent with the city’s regular permitting process, according to officials.  

Conor McNally, DDA chair, said the city logged a record number of approved applications in the latest round. “The most obvious sign of buy-in is how many entrepreneurs utilized multiple programs to truly transform their businesses in the new year,” said McNally in a statement. 

In the current round, 12 applications for improvements were submitted for the largest chunk of funding (more than $74,000 total), the CFIG program. The 10 to gain approval are:

• Little Shop of Stories, $10,000 for façade reconstruction; 

• O’Sullivan’s On The Square, $9,439 for replacing wood framing and a new front door; 

• Opo Coffee, $8,453 for an exterior mural and bike rack; 

• Belen de la Cruz Parilla Argentina, $3,207 for exterior painting and new signage; 

• The Chapel on Sycamore, $6,690 for exterior lighting and safety lighting; 

• Fawn Wine and Amaro Bar, $10,000 for a complete façade renovation; 

• Takumi Cuisine, $592 for the installation of new electrical signage; 

• Sharian Rugs, $8,662 for new lighting for their showroom; 

• Smiley’s Burger Club, $10,000 for new masonry for bathroom and patio seating area; 

• 547 East College Avenue Automotive, $7,500 for a new awning and lighting.

The CFIG program—initially introduced in 2023—supports projects that will enhance and beautify storefronts and awnings. 

According to city officials, a total of $200,000 has been allocated for the programs in the fiscal year that began July 1. 

For a new application window that opened Jan. 15 and closes Feb. 7 (that’s Friday) another $84,000 is still available. 

Meanwhile, beneficiaries from the latest CBIG program funding (totaling $32,000) focused on improving and repairing interior spaces and making HVAC repairs and upgrades are: 

• Belen de la Cruz Parilla Argentina, $6,525 for interior painting tied to a new restaurant concept; 

• Fawn Wine and Amaro, $10,000 to complete the interior buildout for a new restaurant and bar concept; 

• Rebel Teahouse, $5,550 for refinishing, resealing, and staining; 

• Smiley’s Burger Club, $10,000 for a bathroom addition to meet city requirements.

Lastly, the MDCG assistance (totaling $8,750) that helps with design and production of marketing materials and content for digital platforms went to: 

• Float Atlanta, $1,875 for the creation of a demo video touting the benefits of float therapy;  

• Kelly’s Market, $2,500 for a brand refresh and website maintenance; 

• O’Sullivan’s On The Square, $1,875 for a social media campaign touting them as a lunch destination; 

• Smiley’s Burger Club, $2,500 toward a new website to process online orders.

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Decatur news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)