The City of Atlanta and Invest Atlanta – the city’s economic development agency – have launched a program to suppor legacy businesses that have been in operation for 30 years or longer.
The initiative is designed to recognize, promote, and sustain vital businesses within the community, offering improvement grants and encouraging both residents and visitors to frequent these establishments.
“In a world that is rapidly changing, one thing remains constant—the culture and character of our local legacy businesses,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement. “These beloved establishments have shaped our community, providing not just goods and services but also a sense of identity and connection. Local legacy businesses are the backbone of our neighborhoods, the storytellers of our city and the innovators of our economy.”
The Atlanta Local Legacy program is comprised of three components:
- Business registry: Eligible businesses will have a profile on an online registry available as a website and mobile app, allowing interested customers to find and patronize their business. Legacy business owners can submit their profiles here.
- Legacy Empowerment Grant: Eligible businesses can apply for a reimbursable grant of up to $5,000 that can be used for business modernization.
- Small Business Improvement Grant: Qualified legacy businesses in designated Tax Allocation Districts can apply for up to $50,000 in grant funding for construction and improvement projects.
To be eligible for the local legacy program, businesses must:
- Be physically located within the city of Atlanta.
- Hold a current City of Atlanta business license.
- Have operated for a minimum of 30 years.
View full grant Program Guidelines here.
“There are more than 400 legacy businesses throughout the city of Atlanta,” Dr. Eloisa Klementich, President and CEO of Invest Atlanta, said in a statement “Supporting these businesses means investing in not only the heritage of our city but also the local economy and job creation. Legacy businesses employ more than 11,000 people and bring more than $3 billion in revenue to the city.”
