At an Oct. 16 meeting, the Invest Atlanta Board of Directors approved a host of grant funds to help revitalize downtown Atlanta as the city’s economic development agency continues to gear up for the World Cup in 2026.
As Atlanta prepares to host eight FIFA World Cup matches next summer, local leaders are pushing to revitalize the largely empty downtown area. On Oct. 16, the organization approved five small business improvement grants and a new microgrant fund for entrepreneurs in the city center.
The small business improvement grants, each $50,000, represent four different Tax Allocation Districts: Eastside TAD, Westside TAD, Campbellton Road TAD, and the Perry Bolton TAD. The funds go towards exterior and interior business improvements — 13 total grants have been approved since January.
“Since its inception, the Small Business Improvement Grant Program has supported many local businesses and played a key role in revitalizing underserved and historically under-resourced areas of Atlanta,” Invest Atlanta CEO Dr. Eloisa Klementich said in a statement.
Bottle Rocket Fine Food and Beverage, Crates ATL, Strikeout Wingz, Subs & Salads Junction and Big Daddy’s Kitchen each received $50,000. Atlanta mayor and Invest Atlanta board chair Andre Dickens said they are “all great businesses.”
“To all of you, thank you for starting businesses here, and really, you know, doing what you can to stay in business,” Dickens said to the grant recipients.”
The mayor said he was proud, especially as the city considers its “legacy” businesses amidst rising rents and rapid development, especially in neighborhoods like downtown, which city leaders hope to revitalize through World Cup developments.
Invest Atlanta also created the Downtown Small Business World Cup Opportunity Fund. It will combine $250,000 from the Eastside TAD and $250,000 from the Westside TADD to create a micro-grant program for businesses ahead of the World Cup.
It will actually be administered by Central Atlanta Progress, a nonprofit focused on civic planning and development across downtown Atlanta. Community Development Senior Vice President Phil Perkins said CAP has “on-the-ground relationships with property owners and small businesses.”
Grants can range from $5,000 to $50,000 each and will help fill empty and unused commercial spaces downtown. The city is looking to add short and long-term businesses, as more than 300,000 tourists are predicted to head in next summer.
“We think we can do more quickly if we involve them, and have them involved in helping us to identify these potential opportunities,” Perkins said. “We’re hopeful that this will stimulate activity and create a more vibrant environment.”
It’s not the only downtown Atlanta investment. The 50-acre Centennial Yards project that will transform “the gulch” into a bona fide entertainment district is underway, and it will be a major anchor for game-adjacent events come next summer. Smaller businesses like Glide Pizza and Brewhouse Cafe are also looking to open new locations in South Downtown, or “SoDo,” as city officials call the neighborhood in the midst of a 16-acre makeover.
Outside of downtown, the Invest Atlanta board greenlit a few other high-dollar projects: A $26 million tax-exempt loan that will rehabilitate 199 multi-family units at Harris Holmes in the West End neighborhood, $2.2 million for Phase 1 of “Hollywood Place” in the Bowen Choice neighborhood and $2.5 million for an added 20 units to the now 40 unit Carey Park development.
I am a new fashion designer and plan to launch my fashion line next year! I am looking for an opportunity to lease a small retail space as close to the Dome as possible! I am keeping up with the revitalization opportunities for retailers and others! I am interested in a 2 months lease June-July 2026!
Way to go Crates ATL! Big supporter of Indie Record Stores and this one is really quite good. Beautiful space. Can’t wait to see what you have planned with your grant.