City officials officially launched a mini-grant program to strengthen neighborhood business districts in Pittsburgh.
Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today presented the Brookline business district a $2,500 grant to kick off the Pittsburgh Biz Buzz Program, the Urban Redevelopment Authority's (URA) new small business grant initiative. It was designed to help local businesses in neighborhoods attract more customers through creative advertising.
Ravenstahl described small businesses as "the backbone" to the city. "As we all know, Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods and we're committed to ensuring that all of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods are benefiting from the third renaissance that we're currently experiencing," Ravenstahl said.
The program will provide about seven or eight grants to privately-owned businesses in several Pittsburgh neighborhoods. Ravenstahl said the community benefits greatly from these types of retailers. "Studies show that for every $100 spent at a local retailer, like these here in Brookline, 68 of that 100 is returned back to the community," Ravenstahl said.
The first grant was given to Brookline's "Boulevard Bucks" program. Nate Mallory, owner of Cannon Coffee and Vice President of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce, explained the concept "Boulevard Bucks."
"For every $50 spent at an independently-owned business on Brookline Boulevard, you'll receive five dollars' worth of Boulevard Bucks. These Bucks can be spent at virtually every business on Brookline," Mallory said. The shopper rewards program is part of the "Because You're Mine, I Shop the 'Line'" campaign.
After presenting the check, Ravenstahl became the first Pittsburgh resident to redeem a $5 Boulevard Buck coupon, at Vinnie's Pretzels on Brookline Boulevard.
The URA currently has approximately $45,000 to award in grants and is seeking state and city funding to extend the program into next year. Applications for grants will be accepted on a rolling basis and can be found at URA.org.
