Preserving Atlanta's Heritage

​Legacy businesses are neighborhood institutions and part of the fabric of our communities, embodying Atlanta’s identity and culture.

Mayor Andre Dickens, along with Atlanta City Council and Councilman Jason Dozier, established the Atlanta Local Legacy Program, a new program that supports businesses that have operated for 30 years or more by offering business improvement grants and encouraging Atlanta residents and visitors to patronize these businesses.

Atlanta Local Legacy is a shop local program comprised of several components: 

Atlanta Local Legacy Business Registry: qualified businesses will have a profile on Atlanta Local Legacy, an online registry and mobile app, allowing interested customers to find and patronize their business

Click Here to Complete Your Profile!

Legacy Empowerment Grant: a reimbursable grant up to $5,000 that can be used for business processes modernization. Applications open May 1.

Small Business Improvement Grant: qualified legacy businesses in designated Tax Allocation Districts can apply for up to $50,000 in grand funding for construction and improvement projects

Legacy Empowerment Grant 

How to Apply

1. Register in Neighborly -  Neighborly Portal

When you access the Portal for the first time, you’ll need to Register your account by clicking on the Register link. The registration process will create a username (which is your email address) and password that will be used for future logins. The email address you choose will also be used for system emails/notifications, so it is recommended to use your primary email address. For security purposes, the system will validate that you own the registered email address by sending an email with a validation link.  

2. Complete & Submit Preliminary Questionnaire

After logging into Neighborly, select "Legacy Empowerment Grant" and complete the preliminary questionnaire. Upon receiving a completed questionnaire, Invest Atlanta project managers will review and contact you with additional questions if required.  If your business is determined to be eligible for the grant program, you will be granted access to the Legacy Empowerment Grant application.

3. Complete & Submit a Legacy Empowerment Grant Application

Upon receipt of an application, Invest Atlanta staff will review the application for content and completeness. After a fully complete application has been reviewed for consistency with Invest Atlanta and programmatic goals, the grant committee will analyze and evaluate the project. The project manager will contact you with any additional questions and to provide a timeline overview.

Got Questions? Stop by our office hours or join our webinar!

Pittsburgh Yards, 352 University Avenue SW: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, 504 Fair St SW: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

• April 16
• April 23
• April 30
• May 7
• May 14
• May 21
• May 28

Webinar: May 6 - Register Here

What is a Legacy Business?

A Legacy Business is a business that has been operating for 30 years or more and contributes to the history, culture, and identity of the city.

Who Qualifies for the Atlanta Local Legacy Program?

• Businesses physically located within the city of Atlanta.
• Have a current City of Atlanta business license.
• In operation for a minimum of 30 years.
• View full grant Program Guidelines
• View the full list of Program Ineligibility 

How do I Sign Up?

You will receive an email from Invest Atlanta informing you of your qualification for the program. To complete your profile, please complete the form linked above. If you are not interested in participating, you can indicate Opt Out on this same form.