Downtown Retail Recruitment Program

This program is formally titled the Main Street District Initiative Loan and Grant Program. The goal of the program is to make loans and grants of public money to promote and stimulate local economic development, in particular retail, along Main Street of Downtown Dallas.

Retail Recruitment Incentives

• The Retail Recruitment incentives include grants for tenant improvements, rent subsidies and/or other related start-up costs to be determined on a case-by-case basis.
• The initiative offers eligible businesses a “Tenant Improvement” allowance. The allowance is a one-time only grant.
• Eligible businesses may qualify for a “Rent Subsidy.” An eligible business may receive this grant on a monthly basis for a period not to exceed twenty-four consecutive months.
• The City will consider other related and necessary start-up costs.

The program has been successful in attracting unique retailers that serve the various market sectors within downtown.

Eligible Types of Businesses

Kül (map), a furniture store in Davis Building on Main Street.

• Retail or service businesses. There must be a public benefit to the neighborhood such as the provision of goods and services currently not available, new jobs, blight elimination, etc.
• For profit, sales tax paying businesses
• New complementary retailers within the Main Street District Initiative Program Area
• Necessary retailers requiring retention assistance
• The applicant may own the real estate, in which the business is located. Alternatively, the applicant must have a fully executed lease, term not less than five years.
• Restaurants and/or bars located on Stone Street Gardens or Pegasus Plaza to fulfill the retail mix plan of having such uses at those locations, subject to Retail Committee recommendation by a super-majority vote and City Manager approval and the following requirements:
Crimson in the City (map), a womens clothing store in the Dallas Power and Light building on Commerce Street.
• Private investment exceeding tenant improvement investment
• Attraction of other retailers
• Extended hours of operation
• Expressive retail façade

Ineligible Types of Businesses

Included but are not necessarily limited to all non-profit agencies and entities, schools, day care centers, currency exchanges including check cashing agencies and some non-bank financial retail outlets, nightclubs, bars*, liquor stores, convenience stores, gun shops, pawnshops, restaurants*, and passive real estate ownership and management. The City of Dallas may decide on a case-by-case basis to exclude other business activities which it believes, do not benefit the health, safety, and welfare of the community and/or do not meet the objectives of this fund.

* An exception may be made for restaurants and/or bars as described under Eligible Types of Businesses.

Eligibility Criteria:

Fuse (map), a restaurant in the Dallas Power and Light building on Commerce Street.

The tenants’ eligibility for funding will be determined based on factors such as:

1. Job Creation
2. Private Investment
3. Square Footage of the Retail Space
4. Ability to Attract Other Retailers
5. Hours of Operation
6. Uniqueness
7. Expressiveness of Storefront Façade
8. Multiple Floor Occupancy
9. Location within Core Target Area*
10. Sector of Market Served
11. Ten-Year Lease
12. Minority/Woman Owned Business

* Phase II funds must be used on Main Street, between Akard and Ervay Streets unless an exception is made by a super-majority vote of the Retail Committee.