March 2019
The Greensburg Community Development Corporation offers a number of financial assistance programs to aid new and existing businesses within downtown Greensburg. In addition, these programs support the redevelopment of properties within the city. Two of these incentive programs are the LERTA Program and the Façade Improvement Grant Program.
LERTA stands for Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance; this program allows local taxing authorities to provide real estate tax incentives for new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses. Property owners will realize an exemption of 25% of taxes over the ten-year life of the program. Other benefits of this program are the creation of a Greensburg Revitalization Fund (G-Fund), and the removal or renovation of tired commercial and residential properties. Since the LERTA Program’s implementation just a few years ago, several city properties have benefited from its tax incentives, including the Breakstone Apartments on College Avenue and Solevo Wellness on East Pittsburgh Street. The hotel project, the latest development project the GCDC and the City of Greensburg have been working on, would qualify for the LERTA Program.
The Façade Improvement Grant Program provides financial assistance to complete building or storefront renovation / restoration projects in the form of matching grants. Approved renovation projects receive grants, with the committee usually expecting a 50-50 matching cost basis up to $5,000. In July 2018, Mento Holdings LLC was awarded a $5,000 grant to improve their business’s storefront.
More information about these, and other, programs can be found at http://www.thinkgreensburg.com or by contacting Ashley Kertes, Executive Director of the Greensburg Community Development Corporation.
Ali Gipson 