Town Center Commercial Revitalization (TCCR)

The Town Center Commercial Revitalization (TCCR) Grant Program is designed to assist businesses, non-profit, not-for-profit and building owners with improving commercial building and properties in the core area for the betterment of Grove City as a whole. The program was created in the spirit of the 1987 Downtown Redevelopment Project and was revised following the completion of the 2008 Town Center Plan as a means to further the implementation of the plan's guiding principles.

Eligible Geography

Properties located in, adjacent to or across the street (and railroad rights-of-way) from the Town Center area as illustrated on Exhibit 1-A, attached hereto, are eligible to participate in the TCCR grant program. Additionally, exceptional circumstance for properties located within 400 feet of the program boundary may be granted program eligibility by City Council.

Eligible Participants

Owners or tenants of buildings that are used to conduct business or non-profit or not-for-profit activities or owners of residential units located above storefronts within the Commercial Core of Town Center. Prohibited businesses include national chains, check cashing, sexually oriented businesses, governmental or quasi-governmental agencies and other businesses determined by Council to be contrary to the goals and objectives of the Town Center Plan. Eligibility of non-profit, not-for-profit organizations shall be determined by proof of 501(c) status. Portions of buildings occupied by ineligible businesses may make the building ineligible for program funds.

Further, applicants requesting funding through the program must be current in their real estate property taxes and must be in good standing with all local, regional, state and federal taxing authorities.

Project Types

Eligibility of proposed improvements for participation in the grant program is at the sole discretion of the City. Below are some examples of eligible projects:

• Façade painting/repair gutters and roofing on "new and existing construction"
• Signage
• Exterior lighting
• Dumpster enclosures
• Structural repairs
• Permanent landscaping
• Window replacement or maintenance
• Parking lot (upgrades, replacement or striping)
• Awning and/or canopy (new, replacement or maintenance)
• Entryway enhancements, including ADA accessibility, and sidewalks
• Exterior furnishings (tables, chairs, and benches)
• Utilities, including electrical, HVAC and plumbing facilities (new, replacement or repair but does not include purchase or repair of appliances)
   

Funding Levels

The program provides a 50% grant up to the maximum award amount for eligible renovation costs. Additionally, an exceptional circumstance may be granted by City Council to increase the maximum award amount for a specific project or percentage of matching funds of a specific type of project.

• Note: This grant may be treated as income subject to Federal Income Tax. The City of Grove City is not liable for any tax implications resulting from this extension of this grant through the Town Center Commercial Revitalization Grant Program. See your tax advisor for clarification. The distribution of funds will be made in accordance with the guidelines stipulated by the Housing Officer of the City of Grove City.
   

Maximum Award

The maximum grant award is $10,000 per building per calendar year unless otherwise approved by City Council as an exceptional circumstance. Owners and tenants are eligible to re-apply until the maximum award is reached for the given calendar year.

If required by staff, the City may reimburse 50%, up to $2,500 of architectural fees as well as for fees pertaining to Phase I and Phase II environmental reviews provided a plan has been provided for more intensive reuse in and around the commercial core.

Prevailing Wage Requirements

Projects exceeding prevailing wage thresholds levels as established by the Ohio Department of Commerce may be required to comply with Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 4115. Below are the effective (January 1, 2010) thresholds:

• New Construction:
  • $78,258.00
• Rehabilitation, enlargement, alteration, repair, remodeling, renovation or painting:
  • $23,447.00
• Note: Thresholds are adjusted biennially (every two years) by the Director of Ohio Department of Commerce.
   

Information on this site is believed to be accurate but is not guaranteed. Grove City disclaims any liability for any errors or omissions.

For more information on prevailing wage thresholds visit the Ohio Department of Commerce or prevailing wage law see Chapter 4115 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Exceptional Circumstances

At such time that City Council makes a specific finding that a proposed recipient or project type merits special consideration, Council may offer increased grant funding or percentage of matching funds (e.g. greater than 50%). Additionally, upon a specific finding of City Council that a commercial building or property located within 400 feet of the program boundary merits special consideration, Council may grant an exceptional circumstance making said building or property eligible for grant funding as set forth in this program.

Special consideration may be found when a minimum of three of the following criteria is satisfied:

• proposed improvement will substantially enhance the vitality and appearance of Town Center;
• proposed improvement will result in creation of jobs;
• proposed improvement will result in the leveraging of additional economic investment and/or activity;
• proposed improvement will result in the utilization of sustainable building and site design concepts; and
• proposed improvement will result in the attainment of a needed service or goal as set forth in the Town Center Plan
   

Project Monitoring

Grant recipients must agree to allow any duly authorized representative of the City of Grove City, at reasonable times and with forty-eight (48) hours prior notice, to have access to any portion of the project in which the City is involved and the period of such right to this access shall be until the City closes out the project.

Conflict of Interest

No official, employee, or agent of the City shall have any personal interest, either direct or indirect, in the TCCR grant program, nor shall any such official, employee or agent participate in any decision relating to the TCCR grant program which affects his personal interests or the interests of any corporation, partnership or association in which he is, either directly or indirectly, interested.

Grant Approval Process and Program Requirements

• Interested parties should schedule a pre-application meeting with the Grove City Development Department prior to preparing any materials for submittal.
• Following the pre-application meeting, the applicant may begin preparing the grant application form and compiling required materials. The application is available on the Grove City website www.grovecityohio.gov or in the Development Department office located at 4035 Broadway, Grove City, Ohio 43123 or by sending us an email.
• Submittal requirements are set forth on the application form and are attached hereto. Information provided by the applicant will be used as the basis for evaluating the project.
• Applicants must submit a completed application along with all required materials to the Development Department office for review. Applications will be considered incomplete and returned if all items on the application form are not answered and all required attachments are not included. Incomplete applications may not be considered for participation in the program until staff determines the application to be complete.
• Development Department staff will review submitted applications. Applicants will receive notification of a decision within 10 business days of submitting a complete application or soon thereafter. In cases where an exceptional circumstance is requested by the applicant the Development Department shall prepare a recommendation and forward to City Council for final action.
• Staff bases eligibility decisions on the following criteria: (1) improvement to the appearance of the Town Center; (2) creation of jobs; (3) leveraging of additional economic investment and/or activities; (4) utilization of sustainable building and site design concepts; (5) provision of needed services or goal as set forth in the Town Center Plan; and (6) promotion of maintenance and enhancements of exterior structures and their interior facilities.
• Eligibility of proposed improvements for participation in the grant program is at the sole discretion of the City.
• The City retains the right to approve an entire request, to approve portions of a request, suggest and/or ask for changes/additions to a request before approving, or to deny any request or portion thereof.
• Upon approval, the applicant will enter into an agreement with the City setting forth, among other things, the work to be done as approved by the City. The agreement is signed by the City and the applicant.
• Applicants are responsible for obtaining all necessary permits and authorizations.
• Staff will be permitted to inspect the project to ensure conformance with the grant agreement.
• The City will not enter into an agreement for any project started or completed prior to application approval and contract signing.
• The City will authorize the issuance of funds after the execution of a project agreement and securing necessary permit approvals.
• If project cost exceed the original estimates, the applicant will be responsible for the full amount of the excess.
• The City will not contract to perform any of the work, but will enter into an agreement with the applicant for approved expenses.
• Upon the project’s completion the Applicant shall sign a letter of compliance declaring the project was completed in accordance with the rules and regulations of this program and all specifications set forth in the project agreement.
• Approved projects should be completed within 365 days from the date of the signed agreement unless a written extension is granted by City staff.
• Failure to comply with any of the program regulations set forth herein and attached shall result in a full reimbursement to the City for the entire grant amount. This reimbursement shall be payable as of the date of the agreement’s cancellation.

Additional program requirements and/or restrictions may apply.

TCCR Grant Application

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