New Downtown Finish Line Grant Program to Assist in Downtown Aurora Building Rehabilitation

(Aurora, IL) – Seize the Future Development Foundation, Aurora’s economic development public/private partnership, announced today The Finish Line Downtown Grant Program, a new grant program to provide building rehabilitation assistance to property owners in downtown Aurora. The Finish Line Downtown Grant Program is a streamlined grant program geared towards assisting property owners in TIF District 1 and a portion of TIF District 3 with rehabilitation projects in order to increase the economic viability of the downtown. Eligible properties will be mixed-use, with commercial space on the first floor and residential on upper floors. Grants for 20% of the rehabilitation cost up to $75,000 will be available. The annual budget for the grant program is $500,000 and the program will run through June 2018. Seize the Future Development Foundation will administer the grant on behalf of the City. “Creating a streamlined program to administer the grant funds is a positive step in the continued revitalization of downtown Aurora,” stated David Hulseberg, president/CEO of Seize the Future Development Foundation. “We are looking forward to partnering with existing businesses enhance their buildings. It is our hope that this revitalization also encourages other business owners to purchase and rehabilitate property in the downtown core.” If you are interested in more information or would like to find out if your business qualifies for the Finish Line Downtown Grant Program, please contact Cadence Peterson, Development Specialist at petersonc@investinaurora.org or 630-256-3163. Click here to learn more about the Finish Line Downtown Grant Program updates! ### Located 35 miles west of Chicago, Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois with a population of 199,672. Aurora is known as the “City of Lights” because it was one of the first in the nation to illuminate its streets with electric lights. Situated along the Fox River and the Ronald Reagan Memorial Tollway (Interstate 88), the city extends 46 square miles encompassing Kane, DuPage, Kendall and Will counties. Aurora also is home to six public school districts and seven townships. For the latest news, access to an archive of past news releases or to follow the city on Facebook or Twitter, visit the city’s website at www.aurora-il.org. Seize the Future Development Foundation is Aurora’s economic development public/private partnership. Seize the Future works to promote, attract and retain commercial, industrial, retail and mixed-use development in the City of Aurora. We provide assistance to existing and prospective businesses in the areas of community data, land and building availability, development assistance, and financing resources. Seize the Future strives to make the city stronger by leveraging partnerships between public and private sectors to attract and expand business ventures that stimulate the economy, create jobs and strengthen the community. For the latest news, to follow Seize the Future on Facebook, and for development information, visit the website at www.investinaurora.org.