Free Money & Low Interest Loans To Upgrade Your Business! Apply Now!

Have you seen the amazing makeovers at the Organic Rainbow at the corner of Rantoul and Federal Streets, and at Kitty O'Shea's at the corner of Cabot and West Dane?  Seen the new signage and brickwork and entryways at the landmark building at the intersection of Cabot, Winter and Knowlton Streets?  How about the beautifully restored YMCA sign on Cabot Street?  Those are just a few of the businesses that have received FREE MONEY and/or LOW INTEREST LOANS to help pay for the renovation costs. Now it's your turn!
 
Here's the scoop on 2 programs available NOW to downtown businesses and commercial property owners:  Facade and Sign Improvement Grants and the "Banking on Beverly" loan program. 
 
Facade and Sign Improvement Grants
We are pleased to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2013 Facade and Sign Improvement Program, another partnership between the City of Beverly and Beverly Main Streets.  If you are a business or property owner in the designated downtown district, you are eligible to apply for up to $5,000 in a matching grant to get a new sign, add new lighting, paint your building or expand your entryways.  For every dollar you invest in improvements to the outside of your building, the City will match it up to $5,000.  This is FREE MONEY that you do not need to pay back. 
 
We especially encourage businesses in the central sections of Cabot and Rantoul Streets, basically between Railroad and Elliott Street, to apply.  Improvements in these sections have a significant impact because of the density of commercial properties.
 
The City uses Community Development Block Grant funds which are designed to help communities build strong downtown commercial centers, and since 2009, the City's investment of approximately $95,000 has resulted in more than $225,000 in improvements that can be seen throughout the district.  We encourage recipients to hire Beverly contractors and purchase their materials from Beverly businesses, so it's a win for everyone!
 
In addition to the grant, each recipient will also receive up to 2 hours of design help from local architects who volunteer their time to support the program.  Last year, Joe Zelloe of Zelloe + Weaver Architects, John Harden and Jacob Small from Siemasko + Verbridge Design, and John Fuller from Mitchell Fuller LLC each worked with a business on design, colors and materials.
 
Deadline to apply:  February 28, 2013
 
Information sessions:  February 11, 2013 at 9am, 12 noon and 6pm at the BMS office at 248 Cabot Street
 
Click here for the grant application and all the details.
 
 

"Banking on Beverly" Loans
Whether you receive a grant this year or not, if you need help financing your improvements you can apply for a "Banking on Beverly" loan of up to $100,000.  This is a very attractive low-interest loan with a simple application process made possible by 6 local banks: Beverly Cooperative, Eastern Bank, North Shore Bank, People's United, Salem Five and TD Bank.  Each of these banks has made a commitment to the Beverly business community and they are ready to help you upgrade your business. Banking on Beverly loans are available on a first-come, first served basis so apply now!

Click here for the loan application and all the details.


Beverly Main Streets is a non-profit, volunteer-led organization focused on making downtown Beverly a great place to run a business, live, work, shop, dine and visit. For more information visit www.beverlymainstreets.org.