Business Improvement Grant Program

With the goal of creating an enhanced and diverse local economic environment that is prosperous, stable and provides improved opportunities for businesses, the Corinth Economic Development Corporation has established the Business Improvement Grant (BIG) Program to provide technical and financial assistance to property owners or their tenants seeking to renovate or restore façades and other visual elements for commercial buildings in Corinth. The BIG Program is designed to impact properties in need of revitalization, resulting in an improved exterior, visibility and presentation of a business. It is not designed to subsidize corrections to building code violations to prolong the life of a commercial property. Through working directly with local business owners in making improvements to their storefront, the Corinth Economic Development Corporation strives to help increase sales and revenue for the business while enhancing the overall vitality and appearance of the community.

The following criteria must be met for participation in the Business Improvement Grant Program:

• Applicants must be commercial property owners or commercial tenants located within the Corinth city limits.
  • Tenants must submit a letter from the property owner certifying the tenant is eligible to participate in the program and verifying the expiration date of the tenant’s lease.
• Applicants must have operated their business in the storefront to be improved for at least three consecutive years upon application submittal.
• Applicants must not have any current code violations.
• Applicants must be up to date on all municipal taxes. If the applicant is a tenant, both the tenant and property owner must be up to date on all municipal taxes.
• Applicants must comply with all federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to permitting, licensing, building codes, and zoning requirements.
• Applicants must receive written approval from the City to commence improvements. Any improvements made prior to this will not be funded by the BIG Program.

Understanding that the overall objective of the Business Improvement Grant Program is to improve the exterior, visibility and presentation of a property, the CEDC has the discretion to decline an application while suggesting enhancements that would enable future acceptance. Depending on the overall size and scope of a project, the CEDC may entertain additional or alternative economic development incentives that require City Council approval. 

The Business Improvement Grant Program will only reimburse applicants after the project is determined to have been completed in accordance with the program guidelines.