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City of Aurora Finish Line Grant Program – Illinois

The Finish Line Grant program assists property owners and tenants in the completion of rehabilitation projects that will enhance the economic viability of Aurora.

Donor Name: City of Aurora

States: Illinois

City: Aurora

Type of Grant: Grant

Deadline: 04/03/2023

Size of the Grant: $375,000

Details:

To assist property owners and tenants in the completion of rehabilitation projects in the City of Aurora that will enhance the economic viability of the City of Aurora. The Finish Line Grant Committee will consider each case on its individual merits. They would discourage applicants from applying for funds for items which could be classified as routine maintenance.

Any business intending to apply for the program should complete and submit an application and all required documentation and signatures so the City may process the application, and if approved, disburse the grant funds.

Target Business Segments

  • Apparel & Accessory Stores
    • Accessories boutique
    • Children’s and infants clothing stores
    • Family clothing stores
    • Footwear and shoe stores
    • Men’s clothing stores
    • Personal styling and fashion boutique
    • Women’s clothing stores
    • Watch and jewelry stores
  • Entertainment & Recreation
    • Bicycle store
    • Recreation equipment rental
    • Sporting goods
    • Theater or music venue
  • Furniture & Home Furnishings
    • Design and home goods
    • Kitchenwares
    • Housewares and textiles
  • Specialty Retail
    • Art dealers/galleries
    • Bakery
    • Book store
    • Children’s products
    • Craft supplies
    • Garden and plant stores
    • Gift, novelty, and souvenir stores
    • Locally-curated goods, handmade products, sustainable goods
    • Paper and stationary store
    • Pet supplies/goods boutique
    • Specialty grocery stores
    • Toys/games/crafts/hobbies
  • Food & Beverage
    • Coffee shop or café
    • Reopening existing vacant restaurants

Funding Information

The total available funding for the Finish Line Grant is $375,000. Funding will come from Gaming Tax.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Property proposed for rehabilitation must be intended for permitted commercial and/or mixed-use and be located within the limits of the City of Aurora. To be eligible for reimbursement of project costs under this grant program, the following requirements and conditions must be met:
    • The grantee must control the property through one of the following mechanisms:
      • Property ownership
      • Contract purchase with titleholder approval
      • Lease with minimum 3-year term and landlord approval
    • The applicant must be either the owner of a building or the owner of a business within the City of Aurora
    • The applicant must be in good standing with the State of Illnois and City of Aurora
    • The applicant must have no outstanding code enforcement violations
    • A Certificate of Appropriateness must be issued by the Development Services Department. The grantee must obtain approval from the Building and Permits Division as well, if required by the extent of the work proposed.
    • New retail, recreation, or entertainment business identified as a target Business Segment or 20% + expansion of an existing business in an identified segment
    • The total project cost must exceed $5,000
    • The improvement project must be for one or more of the items listed as eligible for reimbursement
    • All work must be performed at prevailing wage, if required
    • Repair, renovation, or installation projects started prior to the submission of a grant application will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Eligible Expenses

Qualified expenses:

  • Build-out costs for new or expanded retail space resulting in fixed capital improvements. Eligible FFE includes, but is not limited to, shelving, racks, tables, chairs, point-of-sale systems, fixed computer equipment used in business operation, office furniture, and appliances
  • Building code improvements
  • Visual merchandising
  • Building materials
  • Interior or exterior lighting fixtures
  • Utility service upgrades
  • HVAC, electrical, and plumbing upgrades
  • Tenant improvements required to meet the occupancy requirements of the International Code Council (ICC), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Illinois Accessibility Code, Illinois Energy Conservation Code, or the Illinois Plumbing Code.
  • Exterior signage
  • Professional services such as a licensed space designer or retail consulting (not to exceed half of the eligible expenses)
  • Repair/rehabilitation of building exterior, including tuckpointing.

For more information, visit City of Aurora.

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