Invest Atlanta Approves Grants to Revitalize Downtown

Atlanta, October 16, 2025

News Summary

The Invest Atlanta Board of Directors has approved multiple grant funds to rejuvenate downtown Atlanta in anticipation of hosting the 2026 World Cup. Local entrepreneurs are set to benefit from five small business improvement grants, each worth $50,000, to enhance their businesses ahead of an expected influx of over 300,000 tourists. Additionally, a new Downtown Small Business World Cup Opportunity Fund has been launched to support filling vacant commercial spaces. Other significant development projects are also underway to transform the city center into a vibrant entertainment hub.

Atlanta – On October 16, the Invest Atlanta Board of Directors approved several grant funds aimed at revitalizing downtown Atlanta in preparation for the World Cup in 2026. This initiative comes as the city readies to host eight FIFA World Cup matches in the summer of 2026, attracting an estimated 300,000 tourists to the area.

Local leaders are advocating for the revitalization of the largely empty downtown area, and this effort has manifested in the approval of five small business improvement grants, each valued at $50,000, for local entrepreneurs operating in the city center. These grants are designed to support interior and exterior business improvements, with a total of 13 grants approved since January.

The grants were distributed among four different Tax Allocation Districts: Eastside TAD, Westside TAD, Campbellton Road TAD, and Perry Bolton TAD. Recipients of the recent round of funding include Bottle Rocket Fine Food and Beverage, Crates ATL, Strikeout Wingz, Subs & Salads Junction, and Big Daddy’s Kitchen. Leaders noted the critical role the Small Business Improvement Grant Program plays in supporting businesses in historically under-resourced areas.

In addition, a new Downtown Small Business World Cup Opportunity Fund has been established, combining $250,000 from the Eastside TAD and $250,000 from the Westside TAD to create a micro-grant program. This program, managed by Central Atlanta Progress, a nonprofit engaged in civic planning and development, aims to fill vacant commercial spaces downtown. Grants from this micro-grant program can range from $5,000 to $50,000.

With the World Cup approaching, there is a significant push for businesses to prepare for the influx of tourists. Plans are in place to ensure both short- and long-term sustainability for emerging businesses. The 50-acre Centennial Yards project is underway, focusing on transforming a previously blighted area known as “the Gulch” into a vibrant entertainment district. Additionally, new businesses, including Glide Pizza and Brewhouse Cafe, are exploring openings in South Downtown, an area undergoing a 16-acre makeover.

Other major development projects outside downtown include a $26 million tax-exempt loan for the construction of 199 multi-family units at Harris Holmes in the West End, $2.2 million for Phase 1 of “Hollywood Place” in Bowen Choice, and $2.5 million for an additional 20 units in the Carey Park development. Construction is also progressing at The Center in Downtown Atlanta, which aims to establish itself as a year-round destination by the time the World Cup begins.

Key Developments for Downtown Atlanta

• Grants approved: Five small business improvement grants of $50,000 each.
• Tax Allocation Districts involved: Eastside TAD, Westside TAD, Campbellton Road TAD, Perry Bolton TAD.
• Recipients of the grants: Bottle Rocket Fine Food and Beverage, Crates ATL, Strikeout Wingz, Subs & Salads Junction, Big Daddy’s Kitchen.
• Established fund: Downtown Small Business World Cup Opportunity Fund.
• Expected tourists for World Cup: Over 300,000.
• Major project: Centennial Yards project transforming the Gulch.
• New projects: Glide Pizza, Brewhouse Cafe in South Downtown.

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Additional Resources

• Saporta Report
• Atlanta Magazine
• Axios
• Sports Business Journal
• Business Wire
• Wikipedia: FIFA World Cup
• Google Search: Atlanta revitalization projects
• Google Scholar: World Cup 2026 Atlanta
• Encyclopedia Britannica: World Cup
• Google News: Atlanta business improvements

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