2025-2026 Business Façade pARTnership Grant Open Call for Artists, Art Professionals/Teams, and Makers 

Overview: Atlanta Beltline, Inc.'s (ABI) Facade Grant is a program that partners local artists and maker professionals with the business community to complete capital improvements, catalyzing business growth within the Beltline Planning Area that spans the 22-mile corridor. 

Vision: ABI’s vision is to be a catalyst for making Atlanta a global beacon for equitable, inclusive, and sustainable city life. As one of the largest, most wide-ranging urban redevelopment programs in the United States, the Atlanta Beltline is building a most socially and economically resilient Atlanta with our partner organizations and host communities through job creation, inclusive transportation systems, affordable housing, and public spaces for all. For more information on the Atlanta Beltline, please visit www.Beltline.org.
 

Project Scope:  Selected Artists or artist groups will partner with a selected business owner during the project period to design and implement facade improvements on their business storefront that will stimulate business growth and catalyze the revitalization of commercial districts. ABI anticipates the selection of six (6) businesses located within the Beltline Planning Area to participate in this opportunity. Projects should be well-planned, feasible, and adequately address the needs of the business participant. Business participants will provide a narrative of the desired improvements. ABI has partnered with Purpose Possible (PP) to facilitate the execution of this grant program.
 

Goals: This program's goals are to stimulate business growth through capital improvements, provide work opportunities for Atlanta’s artist and maker community, and catalyze the revitalization of commercial districts.

Location: Site locations will be businesses in the Beltline Planning Area that spans the 22-mile corridor. A map of the Beltline Planning Area is available here. 

Award Amount: Selected artist partners may submit design proposals to be considered for grant funding of up to $50,000 to implement an artistic façade improvement for any of the selected business participants. Amounts to be awarded will vary by project and be negotiable. The amount granted towards the improvement will be determined based on the final design and budget submitted during Round 2 of selection, pending review. It is recommended that the artist partner should incorporate 15% of their budget as an artist’s fee. The final project budget should include design/artist’s fee permitting, site prep work, fabrication, installation, and any other related fees. The grant amount will be paid directly to the artist partner selected to design and implement the improvement. The first installment of 70% of the grant will occur after the final designs have been submitted and approved by ABI and the business participant. The final installment of 30% will occur upon successful completion of the final onsite project review, after the façade improvement has been installed. The artist partner will be responsible for any costs incurred over and beyond the final approved grant amount. Any costs incurred above the grant amount will be the responsibility of the artist. Funding is not guaranteed. ABI, nor the artist partner, are responsible for the ongoing maintenance or sustainability of the improvements. 

Artist Selection: Selection will consist of two rounds to match artist grant winners with participating businesses. The selection and matching process will be adjudicated by subject matter and technical experts and participating business owners. Interested artists will submit applications for Round 1 via Submittable by July 28, 2025 which will consist of contact information, past experience, portfolio, necessary business documents, and other relevant information to assess artistic style, skillset, and capacity to perform the scope of work described. After an initial review of eligibility, selected business participants will indicate their interest in artist applicants as finalists for their location. Artists selected as finalists will be invited to submit designs for businesses interested in their work for Round 2. ABI will offer technical assistance prior to Round 2 submission to assess engineering, construction, and architectural feasibility. Selected businesses will select winners based on submitted Round 2 designs and Round 1 portfolios. projects should be well-planned, feasible, and adequately address the needs of the business participant. Business participants will provide a narrative of the desired improvements

Due Date: Round 1 Application packets are due by July 28, 2025 through the Submittable platform. Artists selected as finalists for Round 2 must submit their proposed designs by August 19, 2024.

Eligibility: Artist partners must complete Round 1 Application Packets by July 28, 2025. through the Submittable platform along with necessary, valid business documentation. No emailed or physical applications will be accepted.  Artists selected as finalists for Round 2 must submit their proposed designs by August 19, 2024.  Incomplete submissions or submissions that lack necessary documentation will not be considered. Artist partners must demonstrate the necessary skill set and/or past experience to create and execute a proposed improvement project to include a budget, a timeline, and a design sketch with dimensions and scale. Artist partners may be teams or individuals. Artists partners must provide proof of liability insurance up to $1 Million, Certificate of Good Standing from State of GA and proof of Business License in the City of Atlanta or local jurisdiction where the artists’ business is located. Applicants outside the State of Georgia will not be considered.  In addition, selected artist partners will be required as qualifying contractors and subcontractors performing work within the State of Georgia on a contract with ABI to register and participate in a federal work authorization program.

Artist Information Session: An information session covering key information regarding application, selection, and execution of the grant was held virtually on June 18, 2025 from 10:00am -11:00am. This session was recorded and will be distributed on the Business Façade Partnership Grant Program webpage for those unable to attend.
 

Technical Assistance: Selected finalists will be required to present Round 2 Project plans with technical experts in general construction, engineering, and/or architecture to assess the feasibility of structural integrity and necessary permitting. Additional meetings or technical advice will need to be built into final project budgets.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Necessary Documentation to Apply:

• CV or Resume for each person on Artist Partner team
• Links or files for Portfolio or Past Work Samples
• Proof of Liability Insurance up to $1 Million 
• Proof of Business License in City of Atlanta or in jurisdiction where Artist Partner is located.

*for the last three bullet points in this list, you can also submit valid proof that you have initiated these processes and that they will be completed before the next round in the application. 

Applicant Scoring Criteria: The applicants will be evaluated by a committee consisting of ABI staff, a public art manager, and the business participants. The proposed improvements will be evaluated based on the following criteria, which is not exhaustive: ability to meet the needs of the business, artistic merit/quality, feasibility, durability/sustainability, ability to create a major impact within the business district and show its proximity to the Beltline, artist partner’s collaboration experience, and creativity. Additional consideration will be given to artists from the neighborhoods where the business participants are located and the improvement’s potential for increasing foot traffic and/or sales for the business participant. 

This application will close on July 28, 2025 at 11:59pm
 

Atlanta Beltline, Inc.'s (ABI) Facade Grant is a program that partners local artists and maker professionals with the business community to complete capital improvements, catalyzing business growth within the Atlanta Beltline Planning Area that spans the 22-mile corridor. The goals of this program are to stimulate growth of businesses through capital improvements, to provide work opportunities for Atlanta’s artist and maker community, and to catalyze the revitalization of commercial districts.

This grant provides businesses with the opportunity to partner with an artist or maker professional to design and implement facade improvements on their business storefront that will stimulate business growth and catalyze revitalization of commercial districts. 

*IMPORTANT NOTE*: Businesses selected to receive this grant will be required to provide a nonrefundable match amount of $2,500 as a project contingency; this payment, made to Atlanta Beltline, is due upon award notification and is a prerequisite for moving forward with project implementation.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:

Applicant Submission Checklist:

1. Verify your business location is in the Atlanta Beltline Planning Area (BPA)

• Go to the Beltline’s Economic Development webpage
• Enter your street address in the search bar and click enter
• If business is located within the BPA, a green box will pop up that says, “That address falls within the Beltline Planning Area.”
• If you have any trouble or would like to verify if you are in the Beltline Planning Area, please e-mail business@atlbeltline.org with subject “Façade Grant – BPA confirmation”

2. Confirm the property is current on property taxes and fees and submit evidence of registration and good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State as well as your current business license

3. Be prepared to upload a current Profit & Loss statement and a recent Financial Statement

4. Complete and include the Business Participant Application

5. Provide Property Owner’s Authorization of your application and participation and a copy of your lease (three-year minimum) or contract/deed if owner-occupied

6. Complete and include the Business Applicant Certification Form

6. Include a photo of your current business storefront (and a front elevation drawing if available)

Applicant Scoring Criteria:  Business participant applications will be scored based on the program goals outlined above. The 2025-26 business applicants will be evaluated by a committee of staff. Added consideration will be given based on the following criteria: structural viability of the site, visibility of the site to the Beltline corridor or intersecting commercial districts within the BPA, business/corridor investment need or distress (located in an Urban Enterprise, Less Developed Census Tract, New Market Tax Credit eligible census tracts, or Opportunity Zones), and locally owned/neighborhood owned businesses, among others. In addition, the responsiveness of business owners throughout the application process will serve as an indicator of their preparedness to participate in this grant. This includes timely responses to communications (within 24 hours), consistent and professional engagement during scheduled calls, and the overall quality and punctuality of interactions with applicant team representatives.

This application will close on July 28th, 2025 at 11:59pm