The Harlingen Economic Development Corporation has launched Revitalize Harlingen, a 50/50 matching grant program to enhance business storefronts, encourage job retention and stimulate economic activity.
“The main goal of Revitalize Harlingen is to rejuvenate targeted areas in the city that need revitalizing,” said Beverly Loftus, interim CEO of the Harlingen EDC. “The benefits from the grant funds will encourage reinvestment by small businesses to attract more customers and increase revenues.”
Collaborating with the Harlingen EDC for Revitalize Harlingen is the City of Harlingen and Mayor Norma Sepulveda.
The first round of funding will focus on a specific area in Harlingen. This area includes businesses within West Jackson to West Harrison Avenue and West Van Buren to West Jackson. Qualifying areas also include West Harrison to M Street, West Tyler to M Street, and F Street to West Jackson. Business owners may check to see if their business qualifies by visiting harlingenedc.com/revitalize-harlingen.
Beverly Loftus added, “While some businesses may not fall within the improvement zone, the Harlingen EDC may consider additional areas as more funds become available.”
Enhancing Value
The matching grant funds are designed to incentive property owners to undertake exterior site improvements, which can aesthetically improve and make Harlingen more vibrant. Property owners and or tenants are able to apply for up to 50 percent of their total exterior project costs, to a maximum of $10,000. Businesses must submit a pre-approval application and eligibility is contingent upon approval. Complete guidance, along with pre-approval and funding applications is also on the program’s website.
“As a real estate professional, I understand the value of property and improvements made to the exterior of a business, restoring and enhancing adds value to a business,” said Eric Ziehe, president of the Harlingen EDC Board. “I’ve seen this program work in our downtown area and we need to reach out to the qualifying businesses, who could use this matching grant.”
Mayor Sepulveda spearheaded the launch and implementation of the site improvement grant program along with the Harlingen EDC board of directors.
“I’m proud to collaborate with the Harlingen Economic Development Corporation to launch this initiative that will revitalize small businesses in the City of Harlingen,” she said. “I look forward to seeing this program succeed and expanding it to other areas of Harlingen. Residents, visitors and business owners alike will be pleased to see signage, landscaping and other exterior improvements offered through this new initiative.”