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business assistance hdr

Business Assistance

Site Preparation Grants

Projects could potentially qualify for site preparation grant funds. These funds can be used for the preparation of a site including:

  1. Providing access to the site
  2. Providing adequate drainage of the site
  3. Boundary and topographical surveying, clearing and grubbing, and excavating
  4. The reasonable rehabilitation of buildings and other structures; and,
  5. Other work relative to site preparation deemed necessary or appropriate.

The amount of funds provided through the grant will be a percentage of the capital costs involved in the qualifying project.

Industrial Access Road and Bridge Program

This program administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) provides financial assistance to assist in transportation access to a new and/or expanding industry. Eligible industrial access projects may be new road construction or a road improvement such as a turn lane, deceleration lane, paving of an unimproved road, widening, resurfacing bridge replacement etc. Project funding is dependent upon annual DOT budgetary funding and is only applicable to proposed roads that will become part of the public highway and street system of the state.

USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development Services consist of loan, grant and loan guarantee programs, plus technical assistance for industry, cooperative development, housing community facilities development, and telecommunications.

Programs for business development include small business grants, business opportunity grants, direct loans, loan guarantees, and an intermediary re-lending program.

North Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG)

NARCOG assists local communities with obtaining funding for projects that promote economic development and quality of life. In addition, NARCOG operates a Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of assisting small local businesses and industries in their start-up and expansion activities. The goal of the program is to create new jobs for citizens in the NARCOG Region.

Environmental Permitting

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) serves as a one-stop shop for environmental permitting in the state. ADEM administers all major federal environmental laws. They help to streamline the regulatory environmental permitting procedures and serve as a single point of contact for all state environmental regulations.