Maximum Award
The City will provide up to $30,000 in reimbursed matching funds per year to qualified business district associations for eligible expenses, where the City reimburses two-thirds (66.6%) of funds raised and spent for eligible expenses by the association.

Eligible Expenses
Eligible expenses must be pre-approved and include:

• Operating or administrative expenses, bookkeeping/accounting expenses, professional consultant expenses, advertising costs, ongoing operating expenses.
• Promotional, marketing and branding activities 
• Special events. Expenses for alcoholic beverages are not eligible.

Examples of ineligible expenses include: 

• Salaries, or other compensation, of board members 
• Political lobbying or endorsements
• Expenses for alcoholic beverages
• Funds awarded under this program may not be used as matching funds required for the Neighborhood Matching Grants Program

Eligible Business Associations
Business associations must serve one of the City’s Targeted Business Districts as defined by the Business Corridor Revitalization Geography map.

Eligible business associations must:

• Have documented or pending 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(6) not-for-profit designation. Municipal Service Districts (MSDs) are not eligible.
• Have a minimum of 10 district business members.
• Hold monthly membership or executive meetings and demonstrate on-going active participation via meeting attendance. 
• Association Boards must have a minimum of 50% composition of businesses located in the district.

• Business associations must submit a completed application together with, among other things, their budget and annual work plan prior to incurring expenses. The application, budget and work plan will be reviewed and approved by the City. Upon approval a grant contract will be developed for the association’s fiscal year.
• The maximum award amount is $30,000 per year. Associations can apply for additional funding each subsequent fiscal year. There is no carry forward.
• Association matching funds must be in hard dollars, (cash-on-hand or signed pledges). In-kind donations and/or volunteer time do not qualify.
• Approved expenses will be reimbursed 66.6% based upon paid invoices and canceled checks.
• All expenses, including special events, promotional, marketing and branding initiatives must be pre-approved through the annual work plan process. The association should be able to demonstrate that all expenses are reasonable and competitive when applicable. 
• Any costs incurred prior to application approval, contract signing, and special events approval are not eligible for reimbursement.
• Resumes of all administrative staff and consultants must be provided prior to incurring expenses.  The City reserves the right to approve staff and consultants in its sole discretion.
• Associations must report work plan and other accomplishments to the City at the end of each fiscal year. Review and approval of the annual progress made by the association is required for approval of any subsequent fiscal year grant requests.

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