In a significant move to preserve and uplift small businesses in the city, Atlanta’s economic development agency, Invest Atlanta, has approved $50,000 grants for five legacy businesses. This initiative aims to support essential improvements to their interiors and exteriors, a step forward in ensuring their longevity and cultural significance.
The Invest Atlanta board approved these Small Business Improvement Grants during its meeting on August 21, utilizing funds from Tax Allocation District dollars. Such improvements encompass necessary work, including accessibility enhancements and infrastructure upgrades that contribute to these businesses’ modernization efforts.
Atlanta Mayor and Invest Atlanta Board Chair Andre Dickens expressed the importance of these grants, stating, “These tax allocation district grants are part of a larger commitment to our small businesses so they can continue to grow, modernize, and continue to make an economic and cultural impact on their communities for many more years to come.”
According to Invest Atlanta, each of these approved businesses has been in operation for at least 30 years and resides within the city limits, contributing to Atlanta’s rich history, culture, and identity. The agency has identified a total of 400 legacy businesses in the city that meet these criteria.
The first recipient of the $50,000 grant is The Atlanta Voice, a legacy Black-owned newspaper founded in 1966. The paper, located in Mechanicsville, focuses on informing, uplifting, and empowering the community. The grant will facilitate both interior and exterior improvements, notably the installation of a new HVAC system and kitchen upgrades, funded through the Stadium TAD.
Next in line is the Atlanta Human Performance Center, Inc., which received $50,000 to make significant improvements to its facility in the Greenbriar neighborhood. This longstanding therapy and wellness center caters to individuals with various physical needs, particularly those with mobility impairments. The funds will be utilized to create wheelchair-accessible ramps and doors, as well as to enhance parking lot accessibility with new signage, supported by the Campbellton TAD.
Fred Martin Welding Co., Inc., a family-owned business that has offered welding and metalwork services for over four decades, was also awarded $50,000. The funds will go towards renovating the Old Fourth Ward property, specifically repairing concrete floors that date back to 1938, with financial support coming from the Eastside TAD.
Henri’s Bakery, the oldest establishment among the grantees, has been a staple since its founding in 1929 in the Perry Bolton neighborhood. Operated by the great-grandson of Henri Fiscus, the bakery will use its $50,000 grant for improvements at its production facility, including the installation of a commercial dehumidifier and an enclosed patio.
The final grant of $50,000 was awarded to RWL German Imports in Old Fourth Ward, a legacy automotive repair shop that has been operating out of its Edgewood Avenue location since 1983. This funding will be directed towards painting, general repairs, and the creation of accessory structures to enhance garage space and storage capacity, funded through the Eastside TAD.
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEO of Invest Atlanta, articulated the initiative’s goals, saying, “We are projecting more than half a million dollars in economic impact from these grants. But more importantly, ensuring our longtime businesses remain strong, resilient and positioned to thrive.”
The grants awarded on August 21 are part of a broader effort by Invest Atlanta to support legacy businesses that have framed the city’s neighborhoods and acted as local economic anchors. Mayor Dickens has endorsed a range of loans, grants, and technical assistance programs provided through Invest Atlanta, totaling an impressive $36.2 million.
Earlier this year, the city and the economic agency also introduced the Atlanta Local Legacy Program, dedicated to preserving the city’s oldest businesses. Through this program, businesses can register online, apply for a $5,000 business modernization grant, and access the larger $50,000 Small Business Improvement Grant.
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