Eligibility & Program Details

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must either be existing establishments in the “Main Street District” or entrepreneurs with a signed lease who are opening a new business downtown that aligns with business mix goals within the “Main Street District.” Businesses must be in standalone bricks-and-mortar locations and not in shared business spaces. Home-based businesses, pop-ups, and mobile businesses are not eligible.

Can businesses outside of the downtown district map apply?

Limited funding is available to support “gateway destination businesses” located along an entry corridor to downtown within a half mile of a Main Street District boundary. These include destination-type specialty businesses and establishments that might appeal to tourists.

What characterizes an “Existing Business”? 

Existing establishment applicants may include nonprofit organizations, churches and businesses. For simplicity, applicants and program participants are referred to as “businesses.”

What will I receive as a participant?

Bricks & Clicks offers two tiers of support.

  1. You can receive one-on-one consultations/skills building/training and a grant to put new ideas into action; or

  2. You can receive a grant without assistance.

How does the assistance part of the program work and can I still get grant money, too?

Participants who wish to work with someone to get expert consultation, skills building, or training can request a specific service provider, consultant, or expert in the related field or ask HDR to help identify someone to work with. Funds will be set aside to pay for that assistance and to provide you with grant money to help you implement the guidance and recommendations that you have received. The assistance should be used to help you meet your goals, find ways to address a challenge, or take advantage of an opportunity.

For example, past participants have worked with a marketing consultant to receive a marketing strategy and then applied grant money toward marketing and advertising costs. Another past participant attended an online digital marketing boot camp and then used grant money to test out their new social media marketing skills. HDR wishes to help participants “learn to fish” – when you learn new skills, you can strengthen your business and stay on the path to success. Therefore, applicants should never feel that by asking for assistance of some kind that their applicant is not as strong as those who already have a grant-funded project or initiative in mind.

How much funding can an applicant get and how does the match work?

All program participants must provide a 15% match for their grant.

For example, if you receive a $5,000 grant, you must contribute at least $750 towards what you are working on. Grants to will not exceed $5,000.

Are all applicants accepted into Bricks & Clicks?

Applicants are not guaranteed participation in the program nor are they guaranteed the amount of funding requested. Acceptance into this program and funding allocations are based on the number of applicants and the strength of the applications. We aim to help as many applicants as possible while being able to make meaningful grants to participants.