At its April 2025 meeting, the Invest Atlanta Board approved $150,000 worth of Small Business Improvement Grants to support the expansion of local small businesses, creating more than 70 jobs and activating vacant properties.

Invest Atlanta launched the Small Business Improvement Grant program to support local small businesses and commercial property owners located in seven of the city of Atlanta’s Tax Allocation Districts (TADs), including Campbellton Road, Hollowell-ML King, Metropolitan Parkway, Perry Bolton, Eastside, Westside and Stadium neighborhoods. Tenants and commercial property owners are eligible to apply for grants of up to $50,000 that can be used for both internal and external improvements.

Three businesses each received $50,000 grants, including YourVitaminLadyKitchen, El Tesoro and The Vick at Healey.

YourVitaminLadyKitchen

A $50,000 Eastside TAD Small Business Improvement Grant will fund interior and exterior improvements to YourVitaminLady’s newest location in a vacant restaurant space in the Sweet Auburn community. Owned by Shana Byrd, the health and wellness business has two locations – one on Auburn Avenue and another on Moreland Avenue. The third location, also on Auburn Avenue, will offer take-out and delivery food and serve as a production facility for YourVitaminLady Herbal Tonic Juice Pouches, allowing for additional growth through broader distribution. The grant will fund improvements to the flooring, interior painting and fixtures, exterior fencing, signage, and a new mural. The project will create four new jobs.

El Tesoro

A $50,000 Eastside TAD Small Business Improvement Grant will fund interior and exterior improvements to El Tesoro’s newest location in South Downtown on Mitchell Street. Alan Raines opened the first El Tesoro location in the Edgewood community in 2018, converting a vacant garage into the restaurant’s flagship location. In 2023, he opened a second location in the West End. For his third location, Raines is renovating a long-vacant property at the intersection of Mitchell and Broad streets, converting it into a full-service, fast-casual restaurant. The project, which is expected to be completed in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, will create 61 new jobs.

The Vick at Healey

A $50,000 Westside TAD Small Business Improvement Grant will fund interior and exterior improvements to The Vick at Healey – the second location for chef and owner Kadijah Vickers. Similar to The Vick on Canton, which opened in 2021 in Roswell, The Vick at Healey will feature breakfast, lunch and dinner for Downtown residents and visitors just in time for the FIFA World Cup 2026™. Grant funding will finance the renovation of the existing restaurant space, with upgrades to the dining room, kitchen and interior/exterior surfaces. The project will create seven new jobs.