Business Resources

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**TAX INCREMENTAL FINANCING DISTRICTS (TIFs #11 & #12) BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT GRANTS**

The City of Appleton is now accepting applications for Business Enhancement Grants for properties located in the newly created Tax Increment Financing Districts (TIF) #11 and #12 in specified areas of Downtown Appleton. Click on the following maps to determine your eligibility: TIF #11 Boundary Map and TIF #12 Boundary Map

Business Enhancement Grants are available for up to $7,000 maximum grant per project with a fifty-percent (50%) match required by the applicant. Applicants may use ADI Façade Grant funds for twenty-five percent (25%) of the applicant match amount.

In order to be eligible, the property must currently be used for commercial uses, or intended for commercial use upon completion of the project.

Eligible projects improvements are for the exterior of the building and priority will be given to front facades. Typical eligible project costs include, but are not limited to, labor, materials and design assistance for:

Installation, restoration, repair or replacement of windows, doors, exterior walls, chimneys, or other architectural elements.
Exterior painting, only in conjunction with other physical improvements.
Removing false facades and other inappropriate additions.
Exterior work necessary for conversion to retail, office or other general commercial uses.
Masonry repair or cleaning, only in conjunction with other physical improvements.
Landscaping and fencing.
Parking lot improvements.
Exterior improvements for the handicapped including, but not limited to, ramps, doors, door openers, walks, guardrails, no-slip materials or level platforms at doors.
Roof work.

The costs associated with any new signage, awning, marquees and related lighting and electrical fixtures are not eligible for the 50% grant reimbursement by the City but can be included in the applicant's 50% matching funds for the total project.

For more information, please review the Business Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines by clicking on the following:

Business Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines TIF #11

Business Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines TIF #12

TIF Business Enhancement Grant Application

Owner/Applicant Satisfaction and Payment Request Form

Send your completed application and attachments to the staff contact noted in the application packet. Grants are awarded on a first-come, first serve basis.

Please contact Lily Paul, Economic Development Specialist at 920-832-6463 or email at: lily.paul@appletonwi.gov for more details.

**APPLETON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY OFFERS CITYWIDE BUSINESS ENHANCEMENT GRANT PROGRAM**

The Appleton Redevelopment Authority (ARA) has allocated $130,000 to a new Business Enhancement Grant Program to assist commercial property owners and tenants with façade and exterior improvements within the City of Appleton. The purpose of the Appleton Redevelopment Authority (ARA) Business Enhancement Grant Program is to encourage investments and improvements to commercial properties within the City of Appleton that are readily visible to the public.

The maximum grant award per project from ARA is $7,000 for property improvements. The ARA will consider applications for grants up to fifty percent (50%) of the total eligible project costs on a “first come first served” basis beginning August 25, 2020.

This program is modeled after the very successful Business Enhancement Grant program available in Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) Districts 11 and 12 which has helped spur investment of $531,672 in Downtown Appleton properties in the last 3 years. Grants are available for any commercial property within the City of Appleton that is not located within TIF Districts 11 or 12.

“In light of COVID-19, businesses need our support now so they can continue to be a vibrant part of our community in the future. These Business Enhancement Grants will provide an opportunity to assist businesses throughout the City to help further the objectives of the Appleton Redevelopment Authority.”

-Marissa Downs, Chairperson
Appleton Redevelopment Authority

For more information and to complete an application, please click on the following:

ARA Business Enhancement Grant Application

ARA Business Enhancement Grant Program Guidelines

Owner/Applicant Satisfaction and Payment Request Form

Please contact Lily Paul, Economic Development Specialist at 920-832-6463 or email at: lily.paul@appletonwi.gov for more details.

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

Thinking of starting a business? Do you have an existing business that you need assistance in expanding or finding a new location? The Community & Economic Development staff is here to help!

The following overview of business resources highlight the most commonly requested services. If you do not find the information you are looking for, please contact us for a custom response to your business needs. For information on business or industrial park sites, visit the Business Parks page.

•gBETA Program of Northeast Wisconsin

gBETA is a program of nationally ranked startup accelerator gener8tor. gBETA is a free accelerator for early-stage companies with local roots. Each program is capped at five teams and requires no fees and no equity.

Participating companies receive:

Access to a community of entrepreneurs including their fellow cohort members, as well as gener8tor and gBETA alumni.
A formal relationship with at least 2-3 mentors with relevant expertise.
Introductions to the gener8tor network of successful entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capitalists and technologists.
Individualized coaching and mentorship from the experienced gener8tor team.
Office space.
$1M+ in deals and perks from vendors like SoftLayer, Rackspace, Amazon, PayPal, Zendesk and Microsoft.

•Business Planning Assistance

E-seed Entrepreneurship Program (Business Planning Assistance): The development of a business plan is the key tool to starting and expanding a successful business. The City of Appleton supports the e-seed program, an entrepreneurship training program to assist in the business planning process. A detailed description of the e-seed program and the registration materials for the course can be viewed on the e-seed website, hosted by Fox Valley Technical College – Venture Center. www.fvtc.edu/e-seed

E-seed Express: a 8-week course designed for small business owners and entrepreneurs to help develop management and planning tools for guiding and growing a small business. Visit the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College’s website for more information: www.fvtc.edu/express

Pro-seed Business Model Design: a unique, innovative training experience that uses business modeling to look at your organization and its potential from a different perspective. Leave the interactive workshop with a renewed vision of what is, what can be, and a roadmap how to create tomorrow's successful enterprise. Visit the Venture Center at Fox Valley Technical College’s website for more information: www.fvtc.edu/Pro-Seed

• Free Business Counseling for Calumet County Residents and Businesses
Ray York of the Small Business Development Center serves Calumet County with business assistance to existing and start-up businesses throughout the county. Small Business Development Center services are available at no cost to businesses and entrepreneurs. Ray's goal is to provide opportunity to clients by guiding them to make informed decisions to start, expand, or transition their business. He can be reached directly by phone at 920-946-9379 or email at york@sheboygancountyedc.com.

• Financing Programs
The City of Appleton does not provide any business financing (other than processing Industrial Revenue Bonds or Redevelopment Revenue Bonds described below). However, numerous state and federal programs are available to meet your business needs. For additional information on these financing programs, visit the State's Grow Your Business webpage .

• Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRBs) or Redevelopment Revenue Bonds
The Revenue Bond Policy contains information about the policy and process for obtaining Industrial Revenue Bonds or Redevelopment Revenue Bonds through the City of Appleton. Visit the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation website for additional details on Industrial Revenue Bonds.

• Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC)
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) provides a variety of programs targeted at business development, community development, entrepreneurship and innovation, and international business development.

• Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation
The Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) is a leading innovative statewide economic development corporation celebrating over Thirty Years of Impact. We open opportunities for pursuit of dreams and economic well-being with business education, mentoring and training, one-on-one business assistance, financial capability programming and access to fair and responsible capital. Services are open to anyone in Wisconsin, but our focus is women, racial and ethnic minorities, people of lower wealth incomes, veterans and rural business. For more information, contact Julie Stoffel, Regional Project Director for Appleton and the Northeast Wisconsin region, at julie.stoffel@wwbic.com or visit us online at www.wwbic.com.

• Free Business Counseling
The SCORE Association (Service Corps of Retired Executives) is a free business counseling service. A partner of the Small Business Administration, the Fox Cities SCORE Chapter is located at the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry. To request a Fox Cities SCORE Counselor call (920) 734-7101.For information on the national SCORE Association visit www.score.org .

• Free Legal Counseling
The State Bar of Wisconsin will provide small and emerging businesses throughout Wisconsin up to two hours of counseling from a business lawyer at no cost. This service is provided by members of the Business Law Section of the State Bar of Wisconsin. For more information contact the State Bar of Wisconsin at (800) 728-7788 or visit them online at www.wisbar.org.

• Business Start-Up Guide
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation provides information on licensing, permits, financial program, taxes and more. Call the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation at 800-940-7232.

• Licenses & Permits
The City of Appleton does not require a general business license for every business. However, several types of businesses require city, state or national licenses or permits. For information on City licenses or permits contact the City Clerk's office at (920) 832-6443. If you are unsure of the zoning necessary for your business, contact us to speak with a planner.

Contact:

Phone: 920-832-6468
Fax: 920-832-5994

Mailing Address:

100 N. Appleton Street
Appleton, WI 54911
Map
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Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

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