The Invest Atlanta Board approved $250,000 in Small Business Improvement Grants through Tax Allocation District (TAD) funding to support enhancements to commercial properties for five small businesses in existence for 30 years or more.
“Legacy businesses shaped our neighborhoods and served as anchors in our local economy,” says Mayor Andre Dickens who also serves as Invest Atlanta Board Chair. “These tax allocation district grants are part of a larger commitment to our small businesses so they can continue to grow, modernize and make an economic and cultural impact on their communities for many more years to come.”
The Atlanta Voice, Atlanta Human Performance Center, Henri’s Bakery, Fred Martin Welding Co., Inc., and RWL German Imports each received a $50,000 Small Business Improvement Grant. These businesses have demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the community, historical presence, and a clear plan for how the funding will support their operations and improve customer experience.
The Atlanta Voice
A $50,000 Stadium TAD Small Business Improvement Grant will support renovations to Black-owned newspaper The Atlanta Voice. The grant will finance interior and exterior improvements to the property located in the Mechanicsville neighborhood, including HVAC and facility upgrades to enhance digital content production capabilities, a renovated kitchen and event space along with improved safety, accessibility and exterior visual appeal.
The Atlanta Voice was founded in 1966 and is headquartered in a 7,000 square-foot building on Pryor Street that was built in 1964. With a mission to inform, uplift and empower the Atlanta community, the publication continues to evolve and expand its digital and multimedia capabilities. Improvements to The Atlanta Voice will support future job growth in media, production and events.
The Atlanta Human Performance Center
A $50,000 Campbellton TAD Small Business Improvement Grant is funding improvements to the Atlanta Human Performance Center, a physical therapy and wellness facility serving individuals with accessibility and mobility needs.
The 11,000 square-foot building was built in the 1990s and is located on Hogan Road in the Greenbriar neighborhood. In addition to painting and pressure washing, renovations to this legacy small business will include critical ADA upgrades to support inclusive access for patients as well as enhanced safety, navigation and entry points. These improvements will fuel long-term growth and reinforce the Atlanta Human Performance Center’s regional reputation. They also position the center as a model for equitable, barrier-free healthcare.
Henri’s Bakery
Atlanta institution Henri’s Bakery will undergo interior and exterior renovations with help from a $50,000 Perry Bolton TAD Small Business Improvement Grant.
Founded in 1929 by the current owner’s great grandfather, Henri’s Bakery’s upper Westside location serves as the production facility for all seven Henri’s locations. Located on Coronet Way in the Bolton neighborhood, the 7,000 square-foot building was purchased by the company in 2017. Renovations will include a new year-round patio enclosure, commercial-grade dehumidifier in the bakery facility, updated exterior signage along with paint, pressure washing and parking lot repairs.
Fred Martin Welding Co., Inc.
A $50,000 Eastside TAD Small Business Improvement Grant is funding improvements to Fred Martin Welding Co., Inc., a family-owned metal fabrication business with deep roots in Atlanta. Known for custom ironwork and railings, the company has served residential and commercial clients across the metro area for more than 40 years.
Fred Martin Welding Co., is located in a 3,500 square-foot building constructed in 1938 in the Old Fourth Ward. Planned renovations include improving the exterior facade with new concrete steps, handrails, paint, fresh landscaping and steel planters. These enhancements will modernize the property, improve visibility of the business’s products and craftsmanship and support continued growth.
RWL German Imports
RWL German Imports will feature a renovated space with funding assistance from a $50,000 Eastside TAD Small Business Improvement Grant. The legacy automotive repair and service provider has been in business since 1983, operating out of a 3,750 square-foot building and neighboring lot on Edgewood Avenue in the Old Fourth Ward.
Grant funds will finance the replacement of damaged windows, repaint the building and refurbish the exterior signage. Funds will also support new accessory buildings to expand garage space and storage capacity.
The Small Business Improvement Grant program is one of several Invest Atlanta economic development tools aimed at fostering business resilience, preserving local identity for the city’s businesses and promoting inclusive growth across the region.
"This initiative not only empowers entrepreneurs to improve their business for the future but also fosters community growth with vibrancy that attracts customers and new investment,” says Dr. Eloisa Klementich, president and CEO of Invest Atlanta. “We are projecting more than half a million dollars in economic impact from these grants, but more importantly ensuring our longtime businesses remain strong, resilient and positioned to thrive.”