The goal of the Business Incentive Grant Program is to encourage independently-
owned for-profit businesses to locate or grow in downtown Aurora’s Special Service Area. (Photo Courtesy Downtown Aurora)

Aurora Downtown’s Business Attraction and Retention Committee (BAR) is once again offering grants to businesses locating in the area the group serves.

The goal of the Business Incentive Grant Program is toincentivize desired independently-

owned for-profit businesses to locate or grow in downtown Aurora’s Special Service Area.
The BIG program offers a grant for 30 percent of eligible expenses not to exceed $10,000 for independently-owned businesses to downtown Aurora that fall within the desired use category.

Desired businesses include restaurants, bakeries, pubs, cafes, small grocers; hobby, music, clothing, shoe, and book stores; florists; and creative arts including artists studios, performing arts spaces, and the culinary arts; pet supply stores; exercise studios; and specialty furniture stores.

Grants are available for projects that bring new business into Aurora or allow an existing business to expand in a significant way that will benefit downtown.

Aurora Downtown’s BAR Committee will interview eligible applicants. Once interviews are completed, the committee will make its final decision.

BIG may be disbursed as a lump sum upon documented completion of the project. Alternatively, BIG may have partial disbursements upon documented completion of predetermined project milestones.

Grants are provided on a first come first served basis and are dependent upon funds being available. Applications are available online at www.auroradowntown.org

For more information, contact Cadence Peterson at (630) 256-3170 or cadence@auroradowntown.org.

— Aurora offering grant incentives for businesses to open downtown —