City of Worcester, Massachusetts

Creative Economy Initiative

The City of Worcester, in partnership with property owners in the Creative Economy District, has established a collaborative effort to revitalize the core of Worcester by focusing on the principles of a creative economy.

 

This intiative will assist entrepreneurs and business owners interested in opening or expanding a retail establishment that meets the creative economy criteria by providing a grant and other financial and technical assistance.

 

Creative Economy

 

The creative economy consists of those industries that have their origin in individual creativity, skill, and talent, as well as a potential for wealth and job creation through the generation of ideas, products, and/or services.  Creative economy businesses include but are not limited to the following retail businesses:

 

Applicants must demonstrate how they build on and support Worcester’s creative economy.

 

Eligible applicants

 

Eligible applicants shall be new or existing small businesses with at least one year experience that meet the creative economy definition and are interested in opening or expanding an eligible business in the Worcester Commercial Area Revitalization District (CARD) or the Main South Arts District. 

 

The Worcester CARD consists of the Downtown, Shrewsbury Street, and portions of the Canal District, Chandler Street, Grafton Street, Lincoln Street, Main Street, Pleasant Street, and Southbridge Street. 

 

The City reserves the right to reject any application that is incomplete, does not meet the definition of the creative economy, or the Program Requirements in the sole opinion of the City of Worcester’s Economic Development Division.  New or existing small business owners interested in utilizing a storefront for office use are ineligible for funding.  In addition, the City may decide on a case-by-case basis to reject any application that does not benefit the health, safety, and welfare of the CARD or the Main South Arts District.

Funding

 

Funding for this program will be provided through the City of Worcester’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, which are allocated by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Applicants must meet and adhere to Federal requirements and compliance issues.

The Economic Development Division has allocated $40,000 of its CDBG funding for this program.  Each approved project may be entitled to a grant in the amount of $5,000.

Approved use of funds

 

Application Process

 

The Economic Development Division will award funding through a competive process.  The program will be carried out on a semi-annual basis, as funding allows.  The latest round of funding has the following schedule:

 

 

Creative Economy Initiative Forms & Application