Wheeling’s Revamped Grant Program for Businesses Adds Fire Suppression Incentives

The Village of Wheeling has revamped its previous grant program for commercial businesses in the Town Center II or North Milwaukee Avenue TIF Districts, now including installed fire suppression systems.

The original grant program, which was established in 2005, focused on facade improvements and expanded in 2011 to cover additional exterior projects such as landscaping. Now known as the Wheeling Restaurant, Entertainment, and Build-Out Grant Program, it has been further expanded to include entertainment spaces and incentivizes interior enhancements such as permanent interior plumbing and electrical installations, ADA-compliant bathrooms, and fire suppression systems and alarms.

The grant has expanded the original separate program categories: Program A is the Sit-Down Restaurant Grant, which offers funding up to $150,000 for new or existing sit-down restaurant operators to renovate commercial spaces. Eligible applicants must be new to the area or have an existing sit-down restaurant located within the TIF Districts.

Program B is the Wheeling Food and Beverage, Retail, and Shopping Center Grant. It offers funding up to $50,000. To be eligible, the applicant must propose a new food, beverage, or retail business or already have one. Alternatively, they can be an existing commercial shopping center.

The newest addition to the grant program is Program C, the Anchor Restaurant, Entertainment Venue, and Retail Grant. The grant is for restaurants occupying at least 6,000 square feet of space, retail stores occupying at least 20,000 square feet, and entertainment venues occupying at least 15,000 square feet. All these spaces are eligible for funding up to $225,000.

In each category, the approved grants may be used for permanent improvements to the building, including the following: kitchen infrastructure, fixtures related to bar and prep spaces, walk-in coolers, permanent seating fixtures, interior plumbing, electrical and HVAC equipment, fire suppression systems and alarms, flooring materials, bathrooms (including ADA-compliance modifications), grease traps, exterior façade elements, permanent improvements to outside seating areas, new parking lot lighting, permanent landscaping-bed improvements, and new parking lot installation. Other interior building improvements deemed permanent by the grant administrator may also be included.

Wheeling Fire Chief Scott Salela believes these improvements are significant. “This grant benefits the community by enhancing the appearance and safety of existing key buildings, whether retail or restaurant,” he stated.

Wheeling Economic Development Director Len Becker provided more details about fire suppression in this grant. “Life safety issues are of utmost importance to the village. So, not just fire suppression but also exit doors and ADA compliance, which were added specifically with this iteration to qualify for the grant. Understanding life safety is critically important.”

Active since 2005, the grant program will continue so long as the Village of Wheeling has the resources to fund it, Becker anticipates. Read more details about the Wheeling Restaurant, Entertainment, and Build-Out Grant Program.