Financial Assistance Applications

Recruitment Fund Grant

The Downtown Oshkosh Business District flows with rich heritage and economic opportunities for entrepreneurs. The BID invites you to explore financial assistance offered to qualifying business applicants. To further promote our diverse downtown environment, we are excited to offer the Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District Recruitment Fund Grant (RFG).

This grant offers financial assistance to new business ventures or relocating establishments. The downtown environment has grown over time, and we are happy to support our progress in any way possible. The RFG program awards up to $5,000 to individual businesses to assist with relocation to the BID, or fund an expansion project for a business currently located within the BID district. The mission of the funds is to:

  • Stimulate commercial growth and expansion.
  • Diversify the Business Improvement District’s economic base.
  • Attract financially and managerially responsible new business and capital.
  • Support start-ups and new venture businesses to enhance the entrepreneurial climate.
  • Assist in targeted recruitment efforts to prospective businesses.
  • Stimulate private sector investment to long-lived physical plant and equipment to increase productivity, create new employment opportunities and increase the tax base.
  • Assist in the overall goal of the downtown revitalization process and enhance the architectural identity found within the district.

Relocation

Are you thinking about relocating your business to the downtown Oshkosh area? Over the last several years, we’ve invested in infrastructure, developed a new unified brand identity and created a community-centered series of events that regularly draw in the public. We are also continually updating and improving our unique downtown. Click here to view a map of the BID district to find out if your location qualifies for the Recruitment Fund Grant. Better yet, we invite you to come to downtown Oshkosh and explore all we have to offer. We think you will be pleasantly surprised!

Past Successes

From 2003 to 2020, over 60 businesses received financial assistance through the RFG program. The grant has leveraged more than $4.5 million dollars in private investment. We’ve distributed more than $267,000 creating and retaining more than 365 career and job opportunities in our downtown environment.

Application

Think your business would make an excellent addition to our downtown environment? We encourage you to download our application today. Invest in downtown Oshkosh; invest in your business!

Apply here

 

Beautification Grant Program

The Downtown Business Improvement District established the Beautification Grant Program. The grant may be utilized alone, in conjunction with the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce’s Revolving Loan Fund (if requirements are met), or with any other private financing. The Beautification Grant cannot be used in conjunction with the Recruitment Fund Grant. 

Purpose/Mission

  • Improve the business climate in downtown Oshkosh.
  • Implement minimum standards to enhance the architectural identity found within this district.
  • Improve the front and rear facades and building conditions of existing businesses within the Business Improvement District in downtown Oshkosh.
  • Enhance the quality of life in the downtown Oshkosh area.
  • Encourage the development and maintenance of the buildings within the Business Improvement District.
  • Aid in improving the overall economic viability of the district.
     

Eligible Applicants

The Beautification Grant program is available to any Downtown Oshkosh property owner located within the Business Improvement District boundaries. The program is also available to tenants of such buildings given the property owner’s written consent. Eligible applicants must be open for a minimum of three months and provide a signed lease of two years.

Eligible Activities

  • Exterior facade renovations, including paint, windows and doors
  • Signage
  • Awnings
  • Structural exterior repair, including brick work
  • Exterior lighting 

Application

Interested in applying for the Beautification Grant program? Download our application to apply. Grants are awarded to eligible applicants on a first come first serve basis while funds are still available. Don’t delay, apply today!

Apply here

Mural Grant Program

The Mural Grant Program has been established by the Downtown Oshkosh Business Improvement District (BID) and the Oshkosh Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Purpose/Mission

The purpose of the mural grant program is to encourage exterior artwork that contributes to the beautification and economic vitality of the Downtown Oshkosh BID.

Eligible Applicants

The Mural Grant Program is available to any Downtown Oshkosh property, lying within the Business Improvement District boundaries. All projects must have written consent of the property owner.

Eligible Projects

  • Painted mural on exterior wall
  • Mural Canvas, tile, or other material affixed to exterior wall

Application

Interested in adding a mural to your building? Please review the City of Oshkosh Mural Ordinance, and complete the City of Oshkosh Mural Application before applying for the grant. After your mural application is approved, you may apply for the Mural Grant Program as long as your mural is being placed within the BID boundaries.

Apply here

**BID Map

Before applying for any of our offered grant programs, please make sure your business is located within the boundaries of the Business Improvement District. The area is indicated on this map by the green and black dotted line.

For more information, please contact us at (920) 303-9200 ext. 101 or info@downtownoshkosh.com.

Revolving Loan Fund

Looking for another kind of assistance? The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce offers the Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) for those who are looking to locate their business within the Business Improvement District, but who fall outside this area.

The RLF promotes local economic development in the Oshkosh area, with an emphasis on the central business district. The fund is designed to promote and foster entrepreneurial expansion, as well as expansion and retention of the workforce and business opportunities in the Oshkosh area.

Through the RLF, the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce provides loans of up to $25,000 on favorable terms tailored to meet the needs of qualified borrowers for eligible projects that are matched by a qualified lender loan.

For more information about the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce’s Revolving Loan Fund, please contact Colan Treml at (920) 303-2265 or colan@oshkoshchamber.com.

Apply here

 

Capital Catalyst Fund

The Greater Oshkosh Capital Catalyst Fund was developed with funds reallocated from the Greater Oshkosh Revolving Loan Fund and funding from the City of Oshkosh and Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC).

The program allows for any single business enterprise to obtain funds from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $100,000. Loans, grants and equity positions are all viable awards from the Greater Oshkosh Capital Catalyst Fund. The maximum grant that can be awarded is $10,000. 

Apply here