Res 2022-094R/Amending the City's Economoc Development Policy among other things to expand available incentive category for new and existing business reallocate scoring matrix points and update definitions

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Exhibit B –Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) Grant Description The City has established the Business Improvement & Growth (BIG) Grant Program to provide technical and financial assistance to property owners or business tenants seeking to renovate or restore exterior façades, signage, lighting, and life-safety systems for commercial buildings. The City will provide a fifty percent matching grant to reimburse up to $20,000 of well-designed property improvements. An additional fifty percent matching grant to reimburse up to $5,000 for construction of monument-type signage or the removal and replacement of non-conforming signs. The applicant’s match may be in the form of other financial aid (grant or loan) received from other agencies or financial institutions but may not be “in-kind.” Understanding that the overall objective of the BIG Grant Program is to improve the exterior visibility and presentation of a property, the City has the discretion to decline an application while suggesting enhancements that would enable future acceptance. Objective The BIG Grant Program is designed to impact properties in need of revitalization, resulting in improved exterior visibility and presentation of a property, as well as enhanced occupant safety. The BIG Grant Program is not designed to subsidize corrections to building code violations that prolong the life of a commercial property. The BIG Grant Program strives to increase sales and/or revenue for the property owner or tenant. Business Eligibility Applicants must be commercial property owners or commercial tenants located within the taxing jurisdiction of the City of San Marcos within the Main Street District or along designated corridors Preference will be given to independent businesses not required by contractual arrangement to maintain standardized décor, architecture, signs, or similar features Businesses must not be part of a franchise or chain store with more than 10 locations nationwide Tenants must have written approval from property owners to participate in the program Property owners must be current on all municipal taxes prior to participation in the program Applicants must comply with all State and local laws and regulations pertaining to licensing, permits, building code and zoning requirements Applicants must agree not to change or alter the property improvements without prior written approval from the BIG Review Committee for three (3) years from the date of the rebate check issued under the BIG Grant Program Improvements made prior to written approval by the BIG Review Committee will not be funded Businesses receiving a BIG grant must sit out of the program for a minimum of 1 year from the date of reimbursement prior to being approved for a subsequent BIG grant Property or business owners with multiple properties may apply for up to 2 businesses or property locations in one year Properties located within a historic district or designated local landmark must obtain a Certificate of Appropriateness Eligible Projects Restoration of exterior details in historically contributing or significant buildings, and removal of elements that conceal architectural details, including cleaning, repainting, or residing of building New storefront construction, appropriately scaled within an existing building, that is in substantial conformance with all applicable provisions of the San Marcos Land Development Code Awnings or canopies in character with the building and streetscape 10