Invest Atlanta’s Board of Directors have approved $925,000 in Tax Allocation District (TAD) funding to support local small businesses, the City of Atlanta announced.
The funding is part of the city’s ongoing efforts to invest in Atlanta’s small business community to ensure that “they can fully capitalize on major events coming to Atlanta, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” said a press release.
Included in the funding is $250,000 in Small Business Improvement Grants, which provides companies with up to $50,000 for various interior and exterior improvements, such as signage, lighting, storefront upgrades and code compliance repairs, to name a few.
Recipients of the grants include Bottle Rocket Fine Food & Beverage, Big Daddy’s Kitchen, Crates record shop, Strikeout Wingz, and Subs & Salads Junction.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Atlanta’s economy, and these grants are one way we can help them grow and remain sustainable,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also serves as the board chair of Invest Atlanta.
Another $500,000 will go into the “Small Business World Cup Opportunity Fund,” an initiative that will distribute microgrants to assist in the accelerated activation of vacant or underutilized small commercial spaces in downtown Atlanta, as well as create opportunities for small businesses in advance to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In charge of administering the microgrants is Invest Atlanta’s downtown community development partner, Central Atlanta Progress, a nonprofit whose goal is to bolster the economic vitality of downtown Atlanta, according to its website.
“Atlanta’s small businesses are the heartbeat of our city,” said A.J. Robinson, president of Central Atlanta Progress. “By investing in them, we are investing in the character of our neighborhood — something that will be on full display during major events like the World Cup.”
In the spirit of the upcoming FIFA tournament, the remaining $175,000 funds will be used to construct a StationSoccer facility at the HE Holmes MARTA subway station.
Once built, the development will offer free soccer programming and is slated to serve 200 players between the ages of 6-12, said a release.