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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:22pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(112,48,160)">News From The Biz<span></span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">A monthly
publication by the Riverdale Park Business Association<span></span></span></i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(112,48,160)"> </span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:16pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Town Officials Unveil Grants to Spark Business Growth in RPMD <span></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:black">Special Meeting Wednesday For Small Operators to Get Cash, Get Fees
Waived<span></span></span></i></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Riverdale Park, MD (Feb. 13, 2018)</span></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> -- 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 <span style="color:black">dollar-to-dollar </span>match, or no match at all. The
awards are targeted to commercial and <span style="color:black">mixed-use </span>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. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">"The Town of Riverdale Park - including
residents and government - is committed to attracting new businesses while
retaining and expanding existing ones,” Thompson told </span><b><i><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(112,48,160)">The Biz</span></i></b><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">. “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!"<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">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.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Up
to four Business Improvement grants will match <span style="color:black">dollar-to-dollar investments</span><span style="color:red"> </span>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. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">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 <span style="color:black">mixed-use zones</span>, will be
accepted from March 15 to April 30. The Technology grant requires no matching
funds.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">“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.” <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Town
Administrator John Lestitian and Kevin Simpson, director of Development
Services, will join RPBA members at the group’s monthly meeting on <b><u><span style="color:red">Wednesday, Feb.
14 at 5:30 pm in Town Hall, 5008 Queensbury Rd</span></u></b><u>.,</u> to
detail the grants and fee waiving programs. Mayor Thompson and select Council
members are also expected to speak and take questions. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent:0.5in"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">If
you love your Riverdale Park business, be there. <span></span></span></p>
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<p class="gmail-MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left:237pt;text-indent:15pt"><span style="font-family:Arial,sans-serif">- 30 - <span></span></span></p>
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</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div class="gmail_signature">Jeffrey Yorke<br>Yorke Property Management, Inc.<br>Yorke Partners<br>Jeffrey@YorkeRents.com<br>301-502-1243<br></div>
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