[RP TownTalk] From The Biz: Town Officials Unveil Grants to Spark Business Growth in RPMD

[Jeffrey Yorke]

*News From The Biz*

*A monthly publication by the Riverdale Park Business Association*



*Town Officials Unveil Grants to Spark Business Growth in RPMD *

*Special Meeting Wednesday For Small Operators to Get Cash, Get Fees Waived*



*Riverdale Park, MD (Feb. 13, 2018)* -- Town officials will announce a
series of grant programs Wednesday evening that are aimed at spawning
business growth throughout Riverdale Park. The mayor and Town Council last
month approved more than $30,000 in grants that will be awarded to eligible
businesses starting this year. The funds can be used for renovation of
operations, landscaping and signage, and for businesses to acquire new or
upgrade equipment. Depending on the type of grant, businesses could be
required submit construction plans costing $50,000 or more, a dollar-to-dollar
match, or no match at all. The awards are targeted to commercial and mixed-use
zones including Town Center. An initiative to recognize both new and
vintage businesses has also been created. In addition, the Town will also
waive many construction fees in those zones.

"The Town of Riverdale Park - including residents and government - is
committed to attracting new businesses while retaining and expanding
existing ones,” Thompson told *The Biz*. “We have allocated funds to this
in the current budget. In January, we established three grant programs to
help reach our goals - the spring forward technology grant program, the
business improvement program, and the business growth program for larger
projects. I'm looking forward to seeing thriving businesses in all of our
commercial areas!"

A pair of Business Growth grants of up to $5,000 each will be awarded in
fiscal year 2018 to businesses making investments of $50,000 or more that
launch significant renovation (exterior and/or interior) projects costing
at least $50,000.

Up to four Business Improvement grants will match dollar-to-dollar
investments up to $2,500 by any qualifying business that seeks to improve
“facades, hardscaping, landscaping, exterior signage or other exterior work
that enhances building aesthetics and image to attract commerce,” the Town
says.

A business hoping to upgrade equipment or technology, or hoping to acquire
all new systems that increases the efficiency of its operations or improves
its environmental sustainability can benefit from a $1,000 Technology
grant. Applications this program, available to 10 businesses in commercial
or mixed-use zones, will be accepted from March 15 to April 30. The
Technology grant requires no matching funds.

“This is welcomed news for business operators in our community,” declared
Riverdale Park Business Association President Eric Peratino, owner/operator
of Ernie’s Lock Co. “Too many small businesses operate on very thin margins
and these grants could give them an important boost to their growth. And
the additional funding is key to attracting new businesses to Town Center
and other zones in need of development.”

Town Administrator John Lestitian and Kevin Simpson, director of
Development Services, will join RPBA members at the group’s monthly meeting
on *Wednesday, Feb. 14 at 5:30 pm in Town Hall, 5008 Queensbury Rd**.,* to
detail the grants and fee waiving programs. Mayor Thompson and select
Council members are also expected to speak and take questions.

If you love your Riverdale Park business, be there.



- 30 -














-- 
Jeffrey Yorke
Yorke Property Management, Inc.
Yorke Partners
Jeffrey at YorkeRents.com
301-502-1243
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://riverdale-park.org/pipermail/towntalk/attachments/20180213/a117765f/attachment.html>