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Business Improvement Grant

  • CONTACT INFORMATION
  • For inquiries about available incentives and project qualification, contact:

    Drew Brassfield
    Assistant Director of Planning
  • 806-378-5241
  • drew.brassfield@amarillo.gov
  • For Business Improvement Grant related questions, contact:

    Rachel Cook
    Development Analyst
    806-378-6286

    rachel.cook@amarillo.gov

Anderson Model Talent Agency building before their Business Improvement Grant Before
Anderson Model Talent Agency building after their Business Improvement Grant After
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Creative Canon building before their Business Improvement Grant Before
Creative Canon building after their Business Improvement Grant After
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Supermercado Los Olivos sign before their Business Improvement Grant Before
Supermercado Los Olivos sign after their Business Improvement Grant After
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Maestro Taquero building before their Business Improvement Grant Before
Maestro Taquero building after their Business Improvement Grant After
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Golden Gate Mortuary building before their Business Improvement Grant Before
Golden Gate Mortuary building after their Business Improvement Grant After
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Business Improvement Grant

Interested in improving your property and promoting the expansion and development of your business?

The City of Amarillo’s Business Improvement Grant Program — BIG Program — offers a matching grant of up to 50% of total project costs, with a maximum match of $20,000 for projects costing $40,000 or more for the funding of well-designed exterior improvements.

The BIG Program provides technical and conceptual design guidance, along with financial assistance, to property owners and business tenants seeking to enhance their properties’ exteriors. Restoration of significant architectural features is strongly encouraged

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is expended.

Eligible Neighborhood Plan Areas: Economic Development GIS Map

How to Apply

BIG Program applications will only be accepted through CivicServe. Please follow these step-by-step instructions to create an account. Once you have reviewed the application requirements and process checklist, prepare the necessary documents and proceed to the application on CivicServe.

Eligible Exterior Improvements
  • Restoration of details in historic buildings and signs
  • New exterior paint
  • Exterior doors and windows
  • Landscaping improvements (not to exceed 20% of project budget)
  • Upgraded outdoor lighting to enhance visibility and aesthetics
  • New awnings
  • Accessibility improvements to storefronts
  • Resurfacing/restriping parking lots visible from street (not to exceed 50% of project budget)
Eligibility Criteria
  • Commercial property owners or tenants within designated neighborhood plan areas and/or neighborhood empowerment zones
  • Improvement must be compatible with the building’s character and architecture
  • Meet city construction and design standards
  • Cannot utilize funds for previously identified violations or contractual obligations
  • Obtain written approval from property owners for tenant participation
  • Removal of nonconforming signage for sign projects
  • Meet Secretary of the Interior Standards for historic buildings and signs
  • Up-to-date on all property and sales tax requirements
  • Compliance with all state and local laws and regulations
  • Apply for only one grant per property per year

Note: Applications may be declined if enhancements are deemed insufficient.

Ineligible Improvements/Expenses

Exclusions from funding include interior improvements, playground equipment, structural changes, and architectural or professional fees. Additionally, improvements funded by insurance are ineligible.

big program Documents

BIG Program Guidelines
BIG Application Requirements
BIG Process Checklist
How to Create a CivicServe Account
Property Owner Affidavit

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City of Amarillo: Property Taxes Rebated Per Year by Agreement Type 

Overview 

The chart shows the dollar amounts of property taxes rebated per year over the last five fiscal years, broken down by agreement type. There were no Chapter 380 property tax rebates in the first two years listed. The total amount increased slightly each year, with a more significant increase in the most recent year. 

Values 

Numerical values presented on the image: 

 

Fiscal Year 2020/2021 

Fiscal Year 2021/2022 

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 

Chapter 311 

$533,080 

$547,426 

$574,947 

$591,249 

$821,350 

Chapter 380 

$0 

$0 

$37,387 

$39,172 

$61,013 

Presentation 

The bar chart shows the amount of property taxes rebated in the past five fiscal years, broken down by agreement type. The horizontal axis shows each of the past five fiscal years and the vertical axis shows the dollar amount rebated. For each fiscal year there is vertical column, comprised of two stacked columns, each of which representing the different agreement types. 

City of Amarillo: Number of Tax Abatements Granted Per Year 

Overview 

The chart shows the number of businesses that received a tax abatement from the City of Amarillo in the past five fiscal years. The 2020/21 and 2021/22 fiscal years each had four active abatements, 2022/23 had five, and 2023/24 and 2024/25 each had seven. 

Values 

Numerical values presented on the image: 

 

Fiscal Year 2020/2021 

Fiscal Year 2021/2022 

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 

Active Abatements Per Year 

4 

4 

5 

7 

7 

Presentation 

The bar chart shows the number of businesses that received a tax abatement from the City of Amarillo in the past five fiscal years. The horizontal axis shows each of the past five fiscal years and the vertical axis shows the number of active abatements each year. Each year has one column, with the height indicating number of active abatements in that year.

Amount of Taxes Abated Per Year 

Overview 

The chart shows the dollar amounts abated over the past five fiscal years from Chapter 312 tax abatement agreements. Each fiscal year shows a larger dollar amount abated, with minor growth over the first three years, a higher increase in the fourth year, and minor growth again in the fifth year. 

Values 

Numerical values presented on the image: 

 

Fiscal Year 2020/2021 

Fiscal Year 2021/2022 

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 

Taxes Abated by City of Amarillo 

$510,061 

$623,017 

$679,849 

$965,261 

$1,143,899 

Total Abated by All Entities Including City of Amarillo 

$1,569,512 

$1,926,332 

$2,103,099 

$2,884,936 

$2,959,496 

Presentation 

The bar chart represents the amount of taxes abated over the past five fiscal years. The horizontal axis shows each of the past five fiscal years and the vertical axis shows the dollar amount abated. The bar representing taxes abated by the City of Amarillo is sightly offset to the side of the bar representing the amount abated by all participating tax entities for each fiscal year. This shows that the amount abated by the City of Amarillo is a part of the total amount abated by all entities.

City of Amarillo: Taxes Rebated Per Year by Type 

Overview 

This chart shows the dollar amounts rebated by the City of Amarillo from economic development incentive agreements over the past five fiscal years. Each year is broken down by rebate type, including property tax rebates, hotel occupancy tax rebates, and sales tax rebates. Each fiscal year shows a slight increase in total dollars rebated, with a more drastic increase in the most recent fiscal year. 

Values 

Numerical values presented on the image: 

 

Fiscal Year 2020/2021 

Fiscal Year 2021/2022 

Fiscal Year 2022/2023 

Fiscal Year 2023/2024 

Fiscal Year 2024/2025 

Property Tax Rebates 

$533,080 

$547,426 

$612,334 

$630,421 

$882,363 

Hotel Occupancy Tax Rebates 

$686,747 

$753,112 

$794,828 

$871,423 

$808,348 

Sales Tax Rebates 

$0 

$21,046 

$55,528 

$45,881 

$368,716 

 

Presentation 

The bar chart represents the amount rebated by the City of Amarillo for each type of tax rebate over the past five fiscal years. The horizontal axis shows each of the past five fiscal years and the vertical axis shows the dollar amount rebated. The different rebate types are stacked vertically in each fiscal year, with the height representing the total dollar amount rebated.