Eligible Businesses

Eligible Businesses are businesses that are completely located or have facilities within Springfield Township. A business is eligible to apply when all of the following apply:

•  Is established and has been active at least 6 months prior to application;

• The business is located within the Joint Economic Development District (JEDD) or Joint Economic Development Zone (JEDZ); and
• Is located and operated legally within a commercially zoned area of Springfield Township; and

Since the Community Improvement Corporation desires to improve neighborhoods and business districts, this program is designed to support that purpose. Realizing that there are many groups that can and do contribute to improving the quality of life in business areas, businesses are encouraged to partner with other groups on projects that benefit the community as a whole and not specific only to their business. The business making the application must be the lead entity in project planning and implementation.

Business Associations

Business associations are organized groups of businesses/business owners within a specific geographical area such as a neighborhood or business corridor that collaborates with other stakeholders to address economic development concerns and/or improve the economic vitality of the community. A business association with a mission of contributing to the improvement in the quality of life in and around Township neighborhoods is eligible to apply when all of the following apply:

•  Is established and has been active at least 6 months prior to application;
•  Has duly elected board officers and established by-laws or governing documents;
• Holds regular meetings and maintains records and/or board minutes; and
•  At least 75% of association members operate businesses within the identified neighborhood or business corridor.

Ineligible Organizations

Groups that are not eligible to apply include schools, county-wide organizations, religious institutions and organizations, political groups and governmental agencies. Organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, creed, or disability are also ineligible.

Eligible Projects

Request for funds should be based on costs associated with implementation of a single project as opposed to support for operational expenses such as salaries, rent, utility bills, property management services or ongoing operational expenses. Eligible projects are those that:

• Make improvements and/or repairs, or improve the aesthetics to existing facilities; or
• Create new opportunities for economic growth or add jobs; or
• Allow the business to remain in Springfield Township; or
• Address economic development needs of the neighborhood or business corridor and clearly benefits the area; or
• Make aesthetic neighborhood improvements such as landscaping, entrance signage, or lighting; and

A minimum of 35% matching funding from the eligible business/businesses association are required.  Projects that conflict with township policy will not be awarded.

Additional consideration will be given to projects whose applicants live in Springfield Township. Applicants may request funding for multiple projects meeting the above eligibility requirements. Applicants may not request funding for the same project in consecutive years, unless otherwise granted by the CIC. The continued administering of the Program by the Township CIC is based on funding availability. Signage and landscaping projects will be eligible to receive a maximum of $5,000 in grant funds. Projects that conflict with township policy will not be awarded. 

Process and Timeline

The Business Improvement Grant Program is offered once a year.

The 2023 application deadline is: June 14, 2023
 
 Link to Application Located in Top Right Corner of This Web Page.

The Business Improvement Program involves a two-tiered approval process. Review, approval and notification may take up to 60 days.

Phase I – Initial Review

After receiving the applications, Community Improvement Corporation Grant Review Committee will:

• Verify business and project eligibility;
• Ensure business is willing and able to provide required 35% matching funds;
• Review applications for clarity and completeness and follow up with applicants and contractors if necessary; and
• Present the applications to the CIC Board of Directors for formal review

Phase II – Formal Review and Selection

• The CIC Board of Directors will evaluate applications based on selection criteria below and determine approval or denial
• Staff will notify applicants of results
• Approved grantees attend orientation and sign contracts
• Organizations begin project activity (only after award letter is signed by CIC Director)

Disbursement of Funds

Funds are available after the signed award letter is received by the applicant.  All contractors and project budgets must be approved by the CIC. Any vendors/contractors completing projects for the organization must contract directly with the organization, not the CIC or the Township. Businesses must submit invoices to the CIC for payment for no more than 65% of the invoice. Businesses must have a recent W-9 form on file with the CIC to receive payment, as required by the IRS. Organizations must submit original invoices and/or receipts for expenditures to the Community Improvement Corporation for processing.  Checks will be made payable directly to the grantee for reimbursements at the completion of the project and after final inspection by a representative of the CIC.  Please allow at least 10 business days for processing fund requests.  The CIC is contracting solely with the grantee organization.  Therefore, any issues or discrepancies that may result from the hiring of contractors or private vendors must be resolved by the grantee.   The CIC is not legally permitted to pay sales tax, so the grantee is responsible for this amount of any invoice.

All invoices to be paid through the Business Improvement Grant must be received by Springfield Township no later than December 22, 2023.