The façade mural at Siam Thai on Sycamore Street, the sign and awning for Float Atlanta on Clairemont Avenue, and the new door on Rebel Teahouse on East Ponce de Leon Avenue are examples of the improvements small businesses in downtown Decatur have been able to make because of grants secured through Decatur Downtown Development Authority (DDA) grant programs.
DDA recently announced renewed funding for three grant programs that provide specified financial support to local businesses—the Commercial Facade Improvement Grant (CFIG), Commercial Buildout Improvement Grant (CBIG), and Marketing and Digital Connectivity Grant (MDCG).
DDA was founded in 1982 to implement the Decatur Town Center Plan and to provide day-to-day management of the downtown development program. “Since that time, our role has expanded to include responsibility for all of Decatur’s commercial districts. The Downtown Development Authority works with the traditional downtown business district and Development Authority has jurisdiction over the neighborhood districts. Both authorities share a board and staff and exist to provide assistance to prospective business owners and developers interested in investing in Decatur’s economic development plans. These programs are housed within the City’s Community and Economic Development Department,” according to DDA’s website…