2023 Sheboygan Harbor Centre BID Grant Program
Introduction
The grant program was created to support new and existing business development within the Harbor Centre Business Improvement District. The intent of this program is to direct BID funds towards initiatives that will have a positive impact in the BID.
The BID is shifting the grant process, and rather than an open ended grant the BID will offer a variety of mini and small-grants that are more focused, with a simpler process, to support members. The grants will fall into two categories: “Event” and “Beautifcation and Placemaking”
The Harbor Centre BID Grant Program includes two grant opportunities. These grant opportunities range from $500 up to $1,000 and support individual business initiatives and collaborations. The two grant categories are:
- Event Mini Grant – up to $500 per event. The grant is to be used for grand opening, anniversary celebration, or a collaborative Harbor Centre event.
- Beatification and Placemaking Small Grant – up to $1,000 per project. The grant is to be used for outside building improvements such as signage, seating, entrance beatification. Maintenance items, e.g. tuck-pointing, are not eligible.
Only businesses within the Harbor Centre boundaries (https://harborcentre.com/bid-map/) are eligible for this opportunity.
We are looking forward to working together to improve experiences and increase business in Sheboygan’s Harbor Centre Business Improvement District and our community.
Harbor Centre Business Improvement District strives to be transparent related to our decision-making processes. If you have further questions about our processes, you may contact heather@harborcentre.com or call (920) 624-2736.
Grant Details
Events Mini Grant
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- Up to $500 Grant Opportunity
- Grant to be used for a business to host an event that celebrates their opening, or major milestone anniversary (5, 10, 15, 20 etc. years) in the district
- One day event, hosted in the business
- Includes BID partnerships whenever possible
- Grant money can be used as the business sees fit, for marketing, supplies, etc. for the event
- Event must be open to the public and free to attend
- Opportunity available to all BID member businesses
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- Up to $500 Grant Opportunity
- Aimed at supporting events that drive business to the district or provide exposure to the district and businesses within it
- Events must promote the greater business community in the BID through their event
- Example: a business is holding an event aimed at engaging children and families, and through their event and promotion they highlight other businesses and experiences in the BID that are also family and child friendly
The grant will be a rolling application and the funding is available on a first come first serve basis. For this grant opportunity, $4,000 is budgeted in 2023.
Grants will be reviewed every other month by the BID Business Development and Events Committee.
- Submit by February 14, reviewed by February 28
- Submit by April 11, reviewed April 25
- Submit by June 13, reviewed June 27
- Submit by August 8, reviewed August 22
- Submit by October 10, reviewed October 24
Beautification and Placemaking Grants
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- Submit by March 31, reviewed April 11
- Submit by May 31, reviewed June 13
- Submit by July 31, reviewed August 8
- Submit by September 30, reviewed October 10
- Submit by November 30, reviewed December 12
Application Criteria
- Applicants must be a current BID member.
Past Grant Awardees
2021
- Above & Beyond Children’s Museum: ADA-accessible Purple Octopus Playground ($10,000)
- Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization (SCIO): Night Market ($10,000)
- Legend Larry’s, Local Press Eatery, Trattoria Stefano, Il Ritrovo: 8th Streatery ($7,500)
- City of Sheboygan: City Green and Library Holiday Lights ($7,012)
- John Michael Kohler Arts Center (JMKAC ): Midsummer Festival of the Arts ($5,000)
- GM’s Bar: Outdoor painted mural ($3,333)
- Seven Ages Theatricals: Theater in the Park ($1,000)
- Mead Public Library: Story Walk ($490.27)
- Mainstream Boutique: Boo-tique Crawl ($1,200)