SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Business Improvement District recently secured a $100,000 grant from the Urban Agenda Grant Program to support its Lease It Local Springfield initiative.
According to the announcement from the BID, the Urban Agenda Grant Program is facilitated by the Healey-Driscoll administration to help support community economic development projects that are a direct response to a need or opportunity that a community group has identified and deemed important.
The program is part of the fiscal year 2025 Round of the Community One Stop for Growth initiative, according to the state.
“This is definitely a very significant major award for the Downtown Business Improvement District,” said Michelle Grout, the executive director of the Springfield BID. “We’ve never been granted anything of this size before.”
Grout told Reminder Publishing that the fact the BID was awarded a grant of this magnitude speaks volumes to the city’s recent push for investment and redevelopment in the downtown area, which she said includes three blocks of renovations that are currently underway.
“We’re very grateful for the state to see us as a good investment,” Grout said.
According to the Springfield Downtown website, the Lease It Local initiative is designed to stimulate economic growth by offering sub-grants to small businesses as an incentive to occupy vacant ground-floor commercial units within the BID and the Central Cultural District.
“The goals of the program are to create opportunities for residents to lease space for their entrepreneurial ventures, encourage property owner reinvestment and enhance the overall vibrancy of downtown,” reads the website.
The sub-grants from the program provide businesses with literacy training, marketing and memberships, rent subsidies of up to $500 per month and technical assistance that ranges from building business capacity to workforce development.
According to Grout, the $100,000 grant allows BID to fill up to 12 currently vacant ground-floor storefront commercial spaces with businesses who apply to this program.
She said that filling these spaces would bring “renewed energy, jobs and increased visitation to the area.”
“With investments in modern infrastructure, vibrant public spaces and enhanced amenities, this is the prime time for entrepreneurs to join this growing community, as these subsidies lower barriers to entry, foster innovation, and contribute to a thriving, diverse local economy,” Grout said.
Businesses interested in applying to the Lease It Local Springfield must fill out the application posted on the Springfield Downtown website: tinyurl.com/32h2b8s4. Grout said that the application will be open until Jan. 17, and then the BID will start awarding businesses.
Because the grant was awarded fairly recently, Grout said the BID may take applications through March.
According to the Springfield Downtown website, BID is looking for “locally owned, independent operators, artists and social enterprises” to apply.
In a statement about Lease It Local, Springfield’s Chief Development Officer Tim Sheehan said the project reflects the city’s commitment to making downtown Springfield a “vibrant and welcoming hub.”
“It not only strengthens small businesses but also contributes to job growth, enhances workforce development, and revitalizes our downtown,” he said. “We’re excited to see the positive impact this initiative will have on both our community and our economy.”
Grout echoed that sentiment, saying that the timing of the grant could not be more perfect.
“There’s a lot of things are ripe for picking in this Main Street corridor, so [the grant] really couldn’t have come at a better time,” she said.
