InStore

Program Guidelines

A Forgivable Loan Program for New & Expanding Retail, Food, and Creative Businesses

Overview The Philadelphia Commerce Department in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy, is pleased to announce a forgivable loan program. The program helps eligible retail, food, and creative for-profit and non-profit businesses purchase equipment and materials associated with establishing a new location or expanding at an existing one. This program is an effort to support the vital mix of businesses that create a successful commercial corridor. Retail, food, and creative businesses have been growing in Philadelphia, both in quantity and quality. With this program, the City aims to strengthen the role of these businesses as economic and social anchors which provide goods and services in low to moderate income neighborhoods and to grow Philadelphia-based businesses that create new jobs, increase public revenue, and expand economic development opportunities. Eligibility 1. The property being improved must be a commercial business occupied by a retail, food, or creative business; unoccupied properties may be considered but must have a tenant within six (6) months of approval. The business occupying the improved space must be doing at least one of the following: a. Opening a new location b. Making improvements to an existing location in order to expand services or business activities c. Upgrading equipment (a preference will be given for EnergyStar rated equipment if applicable) 2. Projects must: a. Be located on an eligible commercial corridor (see the list of eligible commercial corridors on page 3) b. Make eligible improvements including but not limited to: security systems, telephone systems, alarm systems, point of sale equipment, kitchen equipment, computer ordering systems, millwork, flooring, lighting, sound systems, theater seating, display furnishings and shelving, HVAC equipment, coolers, refrigeration units, specialty piping (not including normal plumbing expenditures), and similar items Funding Priorities Projects will be evaluated based on a variety of criteria, including, but not limited to the following priorities: 1. Enhancement of an existing cluster of retail, food, or creative businesses 2. Generation of increased foot traffic to a commercial corridor by attracting/enhancing a business that will serve as a destination for new visitors 3. Improvement of the retail mix found within a commercial corridor by starting a new business that meets an identified, unmet need for specific goods or services 4. Financial feasibility and equity investment from the applicant which matches or exceeds the loan amount 5. Demonstration of community support 6. Impact on job retention and/or creation Forgivable Loan Amount: $15,000 $50,000 (The forgivable loan does not require payments and is forgiven if the recipient meets program guidelines for five (5) years.) Funding Source This opportunity is funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and is subject to their rules and regulations. CDBG funding is awarded to activities which benefit low to moderate income persons. This program is limited to commercial corridors eligible to receive CDBG funding. Application Process Applications are being accepted immediately and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Eligible applicants will be required to provide additional information (including a business plan and financial documents). The application and evaluation is part of a competitive process in which one submission is compared to the work proposed by other applicants. Please review the next page to help determine if you are eligible to apply. Contact Jonathan Snyder at the Philadelphia Commerce Department by email at Jonathan.Snyder@Phila.gov or at 215-683-2153 to determine if your project is eligible, to request an application, or if you have additional questions.

InStore Guidelines

Page 1 of 3

Created 8/12/2013

InStore

A Forgivable Loan Program for New & Expanding Retail, Food, and Creative Businesses

Please review the following questions which are provided to help you understand if your project qualifies for the InStore Program. If you can answer YES to all of the following applicable questions, your project MAY qualify. Y/N 1. You are a Philadelphia-based retail business, restaurant, or creative business (arts/culture based nonprofit or for profit business) located in one of the eligible commercial corridors listed on page 3. 2. The proposed project is located in a building you own or lease on one of the eligible commercial corridors listed on page 3. 3. Your project is for a street-level business or in a building that is free and open to the public. 4. You will spend the funding on interior improvements to the business over a six (6) month period that will remain on the property and be used for your business: security systems, telephone systems, alarm systems, point of sale equipment, kitchen equipment, computer ordering systems, millwork, flooring, lighting, sound systems, theater seating, display furnishings and shelving, HVAC equipment, coolers, refrigeration units, specialty piping (not including normal plumbing expenditures), and similar items. 5. You have or will have by the time of application, a valid City of Philadelphia Commercial Activities License and can provide a copy of it. 6. Neither you nor any of your partners or your proposed tenants owe the City of Philadelphia any taxes or fees whether for real property (house taxes) or personal property. 7. Your project will: a. Increase public access to the goods and/or services that you provide (examples include: you will stay open two (2) hours later each day; you will be able to pen your business one additional day per week; if you are a restaurant open for lunch, you will now be able to stay open for dinner; etc.) b. Enable your business to remain open and continue to serve the community if you are in danger of closing because you cannot afford the cost to replace equipment. 8. Your business must be open a minimum of five (5) days per week, including Saturday and/or Sunday. 9. If asked, you could demonstrate significant support from the community and other stakeholders for your project. 10. Your business is not one of the following: a government agency or office, a church or religious organization, a private club or a business that excludes minors as patrons, a membership organization, or a residential project. If you can answer yes to the above questions and are interested in applying to the program, contact Jonathan Snyder for an application at 215-683-2153 or Jonathan.Snyder@Phila.gov.

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InStore Guidelines

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Created 8/12/2013

InStore

A Forgivable Loan Program for New & Expanding Retail, Food, and Creative Businesses

Eligible Neighborhood Commercial Corridors

Corridor
22nd Street 29th & Dauphin 40th Street & Girard Avenue 40th Street & Market Street 45th Street & Walnut Street 48 Street & Spruce Street 52nd Street & Market Street 54th Street & Berks Street 5 Street & Hunting Park Avenue 5th Street & Lehigh Avenue 5th Street & Olney Avenue 5th Street & Roosevelt Boulevard 60 Street & Market Street 63rd Street North 7th Street & Porter Street 9 Street Baltimore Avenue Broad Street & Snyder Avenue Broad Street & Ridge Avenue
th th th th

Blocks
2700-3100 N. 22nd 1900-2300 Allegheny 2300 N. 29th 3800-4100 Girard 1100 N 40th & 41st 100 N. 200 S. 40th 4000 Market St. 4400-4600 Walnut 100-300 S. 45th 4700-4800 Spruce 300 S. 48th 100 N. 300 S. 52nd 1800-2000 N. 54th 4200-4700 N. 5th 2600-3100 N. 5th 400-500 W. Lehigh 5300-5700 N. 5th 4800-5200 N. 5th 100 N. 300 S. 60th 1200-2100 N. 63rd 1900-2500 S. 7th 800-1200 S. 9 700-1000 Washington Ave. 4000-5400 Baltimore 1900-2100 S. Broad 600-1500 Snyder 1400-1800 Ridge 700-800 N. Broad 1400-1900 Fairmount 1400-1900 Cecil B. Moore 1400-1600 N. Broad 2200 N. Broad 1400-1500 Susquehanna 3400-4000 Germantown 3600-3800 N. Broad 5500-5900 N. Broad 5700-5900 Old York Road 1300 Olney 5800-8200 Castor 5400-5800 Chester 5600-5700 Chew 700-800 E. Chelten 800-1100 Arch 800-1100 Race 800-1100 Vine 100-200 N. 9th, 10th, and 11th 6300-7300 Elmwood 1200-3100 Frankford
th

Corridor
Frankford Avenue Frankford Frankford Avenue Mayfair Front Street & Kensington Avenue Germantown Avenue& Lehigh Avenue Germantown Avenue Nicetown Germantown Avenue Lower Germantown Avenue Central Germantown Germantown Avenue Lower Mt. Airy Girard Avenue East Girard Avenue Front -9th Streets Girard Avenue & Broad Street Girard Avenue West Kensington Avenue & Allegheny Avenue Lancaster Avenue Lansdowne Avenue Logan Business District

Blocks
4000-5300 Frankford 6200-8500 Frankford 1700-2300 N. Front 2400-2600 Kensington 2500-2900 Germantown 4100-4400 Germantown 4900-5300 Germantown 5400-6200 Germantown Maplewood Mall, 100 E. 300 W. Chelten 6300-6700 Germantown 000-800 E. Girard 000-900 W. Girard 900-1100 N. Marshall 1000-1800 W. Girard 900-1300 N. Broad 2500-2900 W. Girard 2800-3600 Kensington 3800-6200 Lancaster 5900-6200 Lansdowne 4700-5100 N. Broad 4700-5100 Old York Road 4700-4900 N. 11th St 1200-1600 Louden 4600-6300 Market 6800-8000 Ogontz 1800-1900 Cheltenham 1900 Washington Lane 600-1300 Oregon 4700-5100 Parkside 1200-1900 E. Passyunk 1200-1700 Point Breeze 2300-2700 E. Allegheny 3100 Richmond 1900-2400 Ridge 1900-2300 Cecil B. Moore 5700-7700 Rising Sun 900-2200 South 6100-6400 Stenton 5200-7200 Torresdale 4700-5000 Wayne 4600-4800 Woodland 5800-6600 Woodland

Market Street West Philadelphia Ogontz Avenue & Cheltenham Avenue & Washington Lane Oregon Avenue Parkside Avenue Passyunk Avenue Point Breeze Avenue Richmond Street & Allegheny Avenue Ridge Avenue & Cecil B. Moore Avenue Rising Sun Avenue South Street West Stenton Avenue Tulpehocken to Barringer Torresdale Avenue Wayne Avenue Woodland Avenue

Broad Street & Cecil B. Moore Avenue Broad Street & Susquehanna Avenue Broad Street & Germantown Avenue Broad Street & Olney Avenue

Castor Avenue Chester Avenue Chew Avenue & Chelten Avenue Chinatown

Elmwood Avenue Frankford Avenue New Kensington

InStore Guidelines

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Created 8/12/2013