The Atlantic City Council is, for the most part, opposed to giving new and current local downtown businesses City-funded grants for improvements. City Administrator John Lund noted that the Council has pledged $100,000 from the EDR (Economic Development Revolving) Loan Fund to act as a source for business improvement loans in Atlantic.

The City is also in the early stages of exploring opportunities for downtown façade restoration, through a CDBG (Community Development Block Grant). That form of grant requires matching funds from the City, based on whatever the grant amount is that’s applied for and received. There was also talk of a separate, “Simple” City-funded grant.

During their meeting Wednesday evening, Councilman Dick Casady said he was “Totally against it” (establishing a City-funded grant). He said “We give money away for tourism, to get people to come to Atlantic through the CPC (Community Promotion Commission) Program, and the beautification of Atlantic. But businesses, no. I can’t approve that.”

Councilperson Ashley Hayes said “A CDBG would have a similar affect as what the CPC does.” “It’s proven that when the façade for your business area looks nice, or returns to more of a historic view, people are more likely to want to come see it. So it would increase revenue in LOST [Local Option Sales Tax] more than likely, so I think it’s a good idea.”

Councilman Gerald Brink said (with regard to a City-funded grant) “It’s the financing of the whole situation that kind of worries me at the moment.” He said “It’s probably time that we do need to take a look at our store fronts downtown. I would not be opposed to sending this thing to committee, at least to look into it a little further.” But he said until all the financing options that are available are made known, I don’t think I’m ready to say yes or no.”

Councilperson Kathy Somers said she would be against the “Simple” grant, because “People in town get mad when one business gets a loan at low interest through CADCO or whatever, someplace. Competitors get mad so I don’t see that you could possibly be fair about giving out grants to businesses. There’s always going to be one competitor who feels they’ve been slighted.” Somers said she would rather go the CDBG route, with regard to the facades.

The CPC has a financing meeting set for June 27^th, with at least 33 business owners who plan to attend. A CDBG may be included as part of the discussion. The Council’s opinion Wednesday evening, according to the Mayor, was that a “Simple” grant from the City was a dead idea.