Launch Lafayette County

 Launch Lafayette County Grant is now closed.
Grant winners will be notified by April 11, 2024

Launch Lafayette County Grant Parameters (Grant Application Period will be open from March 4, 2024 to March 22, 2024)

Description: The Launch Lafayette County Grant is a yearly competitive grant designed as an incentive program to assist existing and new Lafayette County businesses in updating their facilities, improving visibility, refining facades, and otherwise improving the prominence of a business within their community.

Who Can Apply: Any business with a physical location within Lafayette County or a commitment to establish a physical location within Lafayette County within 6 months of the incentive being awarded (the “Applicant”). Only individuals, members, and/or managers who have the legal right to represent and contractually bind the Applicant.

Award Amount: $15,000 in total will be granted each year. Recipients of the grant may be awarded up to $3,000 with a 50% match by the Applicant required. (ie: a $500 grant requires $500 to be provided by the Applicant match; for a total investment of $1,000) Applicants must be capable of matching the award amount dollar-for-dollar.  A cash match is required and can come from private or public sources, or from income earned from registration fees or fundraising activities.  Donated materials and services, staff salaries, and organizational overhead costs are not eligible sources of a match.  Other funding from the National Trust may not be used to match a Hart Fund grant. All match funds must be purchased with receipts; no administration or in-kind match dollars will be accepted.

Award Parameters: Launch Lafayette County is an incentive program designed to assist businesses in improvements to the following:

  • Facade
  • Interior
  • Exterior
  • Signage: including production, design, and installation. 
  • Vehicle Marketing: including car, truck, trailer, or other prominent equipment that is utilized to display a logo or business message. All vehicles improved by Award Funds must be owned by or for the sole use of the Business. Personal vehicles may NOT be improved using Award Funds. 
  • Visual Design: including logo creation, rebranding or impactful graphic design projects, and website development. 

Funding will not be considered for the following including, but not limited, to:

  • Routine maintenance or purchase/replacement of existing equipment such as HVAC systems, roofing, plumbing, etc.
  • Ongoing operating expenses such as salaries, utilities/rent, etc.
  • Purchase or maintenance of a Business or Personal Vehicles
  • Purchase or improvements of Short-term Rentals/Airbnb’s
  • Trademarks or otherwise registered trademarks, business marks, or trade names.

Award Conditions:
Award or Matching Funds cannot be used directly or indirectly to influence a member of Congress, local or State Representative, Board Member, or for other such political purposes, to favor or oppose any legislation or appropriation.
Any documents or plans for improvement(s) that result from the project must be included in the Award application and are limited to the approved use, zoning, and other applicable county residential, commercial, and multi-purpose ordinances and restrictions as promulgated, resolved, and enforced by the County. 
Consultants to be paid using Award Funds must be approved by the County in writing before Award Funds are disbursed. Owners, Managers, and Members of the Applicant CANNOT serve as consultants unless written consent is first obtained from the County.
Award recipients may be required to sign a contract agreeing to the conditions of the program. This contract may be included in the Application process and may be modified thereafter by the County. Please read the terms of the Application carefully.
Award projects must begin within six months of the award date. Failure to begin the project in this timeframe may result in the cancelation of the Award. If an Award is canceled, the Applicant must reapply for funding.
Award recipients may be required to appear before the Lafayette County Board, to participate in promotional materials, and or to permit Lafayette County the right to photograph, disseminate, and otherwise license the use of images concerning the use of the funds awarded. This use may include images of the business, logo, and other materials relating to the project for which funds were applied.
Within one year from the grant award date, a final report and financial accounting of the expenditure of the Award must be submitted. If the project is not completed in accordance with the application, these terms, and any additional terms applicable to the project, the Award funds must be returned to Lafayette County within sixty (60) days.

Application Method: Online via form on Lafayette County website. Paper applications will not be accepted.

Application Period: Applications will open in March 2024 The application period will be open for 14 business days. No late applications will be accepted. Lafayette County reserves the right to revoke, terminate, and/or suspend applications and/or the Incentive Program at any time, at the sole discretion of Lafayette County. The 2024 Application period will be from March 4th at 12:00 pm through March 22nd at 12:00 pm.

Award Notification: All awardees will be notified by April 11th of the estimated incentive amount they will receive.

Award Period: Awardees have six months to utilize their award dollars. All award dollars will be provided to awardees up front. All dollars must be utilized and matching dollar receipts turned in by October 1st of the award year.

Reporting: Awardees will be required to fill out an online award report containing a project description and at minimum, five photos of the project. Before and After pictures are encouraged. Awardees must also be willing to present at the Lafayette Development Corporation Annual Meeting.

Notes:
Awardees are only eligible to receive one award every ten years. Awardees are defined as a Business Entity and/or an Owner of a business entity. (ie: individuals who have ownership in multiple businesses are only eligible for one award for one business in a ten-year period). “Business Entity” is defined as a registered LLC, Corporation, Association, or Partnership as defined by Wisconsin law. “Owner” is defined as any person owning more than 10% of any business entity.
Award requests may be partially funded at the sole discretion of Lafayette County.
Some organizations meeting the criteria may not receive support in a given year. Lafayette County makes no guarantee of funding. The submission of an Application does not automatically qualify any applicant for funding.
Lafayette County will not provide critiques of proposals submitted nor will the County participate or assist an applicant with completing his or her application.
Lafayette County reserves the right to approve or deny any request for any reason at the County’s sole discretion.
Lafayette County reserves the right to require the awardee to repay the award amount if the award parameters are not met and/or where Lafayette County determines that information submitted, Business and/or Owner information, failure to meet Code of Ethics requirements, and/or the Award was received otherwise under the suspicion of fraud.

Questions? Contact Allison Taylor, Economic Development Director allison.taylor@lafayettecountywi.org

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