Roanoke Workshop Set on Commercial Real Estate

If you're wondering what kind of help is available to reduce costs and enhance the value of your commercial property or business located in the city, wonder no longer.

The City of Roanoke will hold the free workshop, "Financing Commercial Real Estate Improvements" on Thursday, April 22, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Roanoke Higher Education Center, Room 408.

There are a number of local incentive programs and grants that can assist commercial property owners. Workshop topics will include:

• Enterprise zone/rehabilitation/citywide tax abatement;
• Façade improvement grants;
• Building permit rebates;
• Water/fire/sewer hookup rebates;
• Brownfield grants and loans;
• Real property investment grants;
• Virginia and federal rehabilitation tax credits;
• Security grants;
• Job creation grants;
• And entrepreneurship grants.

These programs are available through the city's offices for Real Estate Valuation, Planning, and Economic Development. In addition, local architecture and planning firm Hill Studio will sponsor the workshop and present information on state and federal historic rehabilitation tax credits.

Time will be available at the end of the workshop to meet with city representatives and ask questions. \To register, call Lindsay Hurt in the Economic Development Department at 540-853-5405, or Erica Taylor in the Planning, Building and Development Department at 540-853-1522. Space is limited.