A Micro Enterprise is a commercial enterprise with 5 or fewer employees, including the owner. The owner, or at least 51% of your employees, must be low or moderate income. The business must be located within the City of Williamsport.
The City offers Micro loans at a 3 % interest rate. Funds of up to $10,000 are available to assist you to develop or expand your business. An application and a business plan are required. Funds can be used to:
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Provide credit to establish, stabilize or expand an eligible micro enterprise
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Provide technical assistance
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Provide general support to the business
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Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA)
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The City offers a Property Tax Abatement for rehabilitation of industrial and commercial properties located in the approved Enterprise Zone. Residential properties are excluded. The amount exempted is limited to the additional tax assessment attributable to the actual cost of acceptably completed improvements to the property. Restrictions and deadlines apply. You cannot begin work without an approved Building Permit and you must apply for LERTA within 30 days of receiving an approved Building Permit or eligibility expires.
Obtain a LERTA Application from the Community Development Office.
Call 570-327-7511 for more information
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The current LERTA Exemption Schedule is:
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First Year
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100%
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Second Year
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90%
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Third Year
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80%
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Fourth Year
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70%
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Fifth Year
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60%
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Sixth Year
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50%
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Seventh Year
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40%
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Eighth Year
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30%
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Ninth Year
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20%
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Tenth Year
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10%
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The exemption is granted upon the property
and shall not terminate upon the
sale or exchange of the property
Call the Community Development Office at
570-327-7511 for more information
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Commercial Facade Improvement Program
The City of Williamsport, offers a Commercial Façade Repair and Improvement Program that offers a low interest loan for repairs and improvements to the exterior of commercial property. The eligible area now includes commercial units located in ANY City Commercial Zoning District.
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Examples of eligible work items are roofing, window and door replacement, lighting, painting, accessibility accommodations, sings, and correction of pre-existing hazardous conditions. Construction of new additions is not eligible. Hazardous conditions must be addressed before making cosmetic improvements.
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A 3% interest loan of up to $10,000 is offered. The loan requires monthly repayments and has a ten (10) year repayment term.
Call 570-327-7511 for an application or additional information.
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SHOPSTEADING (A Commercial Investment Program)
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The City offers financial assistance for private economic development projects that create jobs! Call Community and Economic Development at 570-327-7511 for more information.
Shopsteading offers a maximum $100,000 loan at 4% interest.
To be eligible for funding your economic development project must:
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Provide at least two dollars $$ of financing for each dollar $ of assistance.
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Create or retain jobs for persons, at least 51% of whom, are low to moderate income.
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At least one job must be created or retained for each $15,000 of Shopsteading assistance
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