The Colony EDC provides several grants to support local businesses. Grants are available for specific uses, including visual location improvements, expansion projects and employee training.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT GRANT (BIG)
This grant can be used to improve the exterior of any business or commercial property. It is somewhat of a beautification program but it intended to improve the look of a business or commercial property to help make it more prosperous. It can be used for paint, façade, landscaping and signage. It is a matching grant program.
Our match cannot exceed $2,500. An example would be if a sign cost $9,000 we would be able to partner with a $2,500 contribution. If the sign was $1,000 we would only be able to partner at $500. These grants are available one time per year for each business and one time per year per location. In your case each center will qualify separately so we could partner with you at both locations.
BUSINESS RETENTION AND AUGMENTATION GRANT (BRAG)
This grant is to help a business improve their services, expand their workforce, expand their facilities, new equipment/machinery etc. A business has to be a long standing business within The Colony to qualify. These are considered on a case by case basis depending on the needs of the business and the local investment they have already made. There is no set dollar amount.
ASSISTING CONTINUED EDUCATION GRANT (ACE)
This grant is to help small businesses with training needs for their staff. It is $500 per employee up to 3 employees per year or $1,500 to bring in a facilitator one time a year. The goal is to help the local workforce by enhancing an employee’s knowledge base or skill set for their particular line of work. The funds can be used for tuition, travel or any qualified expense tied to continuing education/training for their workforce.
